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1 | Requested/Recommend Source | Dewey | Title | Set/Series Name | Series Volume Number | Author/Artist | Year | Audience | Interestlevel | Booklist | Kirkus | PW | SLJ | Total Full Text Reviews | Review 1 | Review 2 | Review 3 | Alt. Review | ||||||||||
2 | Wimberley High School | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3 | TW/KR | -Fic- | A language of dragons | Language of Dragons | 1 | Williamson, S. F | 2025 | Young Adult | YA | Grades 7-12 | Ages 14-18 | Ages 13-up | Gr 9-Up | 4 | School Library Journal starred (January 1, 2025) Gr 9 Up-A compelling fantasy debut that centers around Vivien Featherswallow, a young linguist skilled in both human and Dragon languages. In alternate 1923 London, Vivien's life takes an unexpected turn when her family is accused of treason, thrusting her into a treacherous world of politics and warfare as she struggles to protect them. She is forced to work as a codebreaker at Bletchley Park deciphering Dragon communications. Through Vivien's journey, the novel explores the transformative power of language and the profound role it plays in connecting cultures and bridging divides. What sets this book apart is its exploration of language as more than mere communication. The author masterfully demonstrates how language embodies cultural values, traditions, and even political ideologies. Vivien's interactions with both human and Dragon societies reveal a nuanced understanding of how words can shape, heal, and also destroy. The political backdrop of the novel adds layers of urgency and relevance, mirroring modern-day discussions about identity, diplomacy, and understanding in a divided world. At its core, this novel celebrates the beauty of communication and the bravery it takes to seek mutual understanding in turbulent times. VERDICT For readers who appreciate fantasy with philosophical depth, this novel is a must-read, offering both a gripping plot and a meditation on the importance of words and empathy in a fractured world.-Jessica Calaway © Copyright 2025. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | Booklist (December 1, 2024 (Vol. 121, No. 7)) Grades 7-12. After Guardians raid her home and arrest her rebel parents, polyglot and Second-Class citizen Vivien Featherswallow frees an imprisoned dragon to destroy evidence of her parent’s rebellion. Unable to escape the aftermath, she finds herself before the Prime Minister of Britannia who offers her a job to use her language abilities to crack the dragon code, the most secret language of dragons, and get her parents pardoned. With no real choice, Vivien arrives at Bletchley Park, where she and several other misfits work together and against each other to be the first to unravel the profound mystery behind the all-encompassing language of dragons. Vivien uncovers the truth of the language, but is left with a choice: reveal the discovery and doom dragons and Third-Class citizens, or keep the secret safe and forfeit the lives of her loved ones. Williamson’s engaging novel highlights the conflict between Vivien’s choices and how her decisions deeply affect who she becomes. Its characters offer a vivid glimpse into the themes of societal inequality, the complexity of translation, and above all forgiveness. | Kirkus Reviews (December 1, 2024) As war looms between dragons and humans in an alternate 1923, one girl is forced to work as a codebreaker to save her family. Vivien Featherswallow loves languages: She’s studied “three human languages and six dragon tongues” and hopes to become a Draconic Translator. A Second Class resident of London’s Fitzrovia neighborhood, Viv wholeheartedly supports the Peace Agreement made by Prime Minister Wyvernmire and the British Dragon Queen as well as the Class System that stratifies people into three tiers. So, when the rest of her family is suddenly arrested for their resistance group activities, Viv struggles to understand what’s going on. She bargains with Chumana, a rebellious dragon imprisoned in a University of London library: her release in exchange for burning down the prime minister’s office (and any evidence of her family’s wrongdoing that it contains). But in the process, she inadvertently sparks a civil war. The Featherswallows’ only hope of redemption lies at Bletchley Park, where Viv is recruited to decipher rebel dragons’ communications alongside the former friend she once betrayed. Everyone at Bletchley is desperate, and if she wants to succeed, Viv must work quickly to support a cause she’s losing faith in. Williamson’s debut layers a fascinating fantastical world over pre-World War II tensions. Viv’s translation skills become the window through which she begins to understand a larger world, and readers will root for her growth. Most characters present white. Alt-history fans will devour this high-concept reimagining of the interwar period—with dragons. (Historical fantasy. 14-18) | |||||||||||
4 | SR | -Fic- | Among serpents | Above the Black | 2 | Gregson, Marc J | 2025 | Young Adult | YA | Grades 7-12 | Ages 14-18 | Gr 8-Up | 3 | School Library Journal (May 1, 2025) Gr 8 Up-Surviving the Gauntlet and reuniting with his sister Ella are only the beginning of Conrad's problems in this second book of the "Above the Black" trilogy. Conrad's position as his uncle's heir remains tenuous and Ella is unwilling to accept Conrad, suspicious of his compassion for his crew. When Conrad is tasked by his uncle, the king, to stop the Below's most dangerous engineered metallic beast, failure could mean losing Ella forever. Flashy action sequences and vividly described battles keep up the momentum but leave little room for character development. Glimpses at Conrad's interiority in his first-person narration adds complexity but fails to reconcile his deep-seated ambition to rise within the Meritocracy with his repeated disregard for status in the face of doing what he feels is morally right. Conrad is white, and the supporting cast have a variety of skin tones and backgrounds. VERDICT A dramatic installment for fans and a solid comp for battle-centric shonen titles and dystopian novels. © Copyright 2025. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | Booklist (January 1, 2025 (Vol. 121, No. 9)) Grades 7-12. After Prince Conrad Urwin’s sky squadron suffers a terrible blow from a torton, an electric breathing, biomechanical tortoise from the Below, his uncle, King Urwin, gives him one last chance to prove himself: a mission to find Weapon’s secrets. Although a Lantian ambush, mutiny, a homecoming, epic duels, and nothing short of the almighty gigatuan delay his mission, Conrad’s journey leads to a finale packed with revelatory truths and puzzling questions waiting to be explained in book three. While the dizzying battles between the Skylands and the Below keep readers on the edge of their seats, the deeper character and setting engagement allow space to reflect on characters that struggle in the gray area between right and wrong in a surprisingly relatable world. Conrad’s unique position as prince and his strong moral path steer him toward situations where his choices will help readers grasp both the challenges and rewards of becoming a strong leader. Overall, Gregson’s second entry of the Above the Black trilogy provides a fast-paced story loaded with intense battles and ever-deepening characterization. | Kirkus Reviews (November 1, 2024) In the aftermath of the events of Sky’s End (2024), Conrad finds himself entrenched in the war against the Below. Now Captain of his Hunter ship and Prince of the Skylands, he faces the challenges that come with his high rank. Conrad’s ruthless uncle rules with an iron fist, demanding unwavering loyalty from Conrad and his sister, Ella. Conrad’s feelings for Bryce deepen, but his uncle’s disapproval of her as a suitable partner puts their relationship in a precarious position. As Conrad navigates the complexities of leadership, he must make tough choices about the future of his family, friends, and the islands under his protection. Meanwhile, the Lantians, the people of the Below, continue to infiltrate the Skylands’ ranks, unleashing deadly new creatures in the skies, and Conrad’s uncle assigns him a pivotal mission, one that could alter the course of the war. While the book is packed with action, some of the battle scenes become repetitive, and some judicious trimming would have made the story feel punchier. However, readers will gain deeper insights into the worldbuilding, including the roles of the various Trades and the motivations of the Lantians. The ending sets the stage for an exciting trilogy finale. Most characters are cued white. A fast-paced if overlong middle volume that will leave fans eager for the series closer. (Science fiction. 14-18) | ||||||||||||
5 | TW/KR | -Fic- | Coldwire | Gong, Chloe | 2025 | Young Adult | YA | Grades 9-12 | Ages 14-18 | Ages 14-up | Gr 9-Up | 4 | School Library Journal starred (October 1, 2025) Gr 9 Up-An adrenaline-fueled mystery for fans of Marie Lu's Warcross and Marissa Meyer's Renegades. When NileCorp created StrangeLoom, the virtual reality "upcountry" that duplicated the real world without the consequences of humanity's bad decisions, they built something far more appealing than the "downcountry" reality. Soon nearly everything is upcountry, from preschool to international government, and the world is trapped in a cold war as NileCorp's technological sovereignty grows. Lia has nearly graduated from the Nile Military Academy; she just needs to ace her final assignment, a highly classified joint posting overseas with her academic rival. Eirale has secured a solid job post-graduation as a NileCorp soldier downcountry, where she's assigned to tracking an anarchist terrorist-until he turns the tables on her. Lia and Eirale come at the same problem from opposite ends, forcing them to grapple with the nature of reality and what they're willing to sacrifice for it. Despite an exposition-heavy opening, Gong's wit and dialogue transport readers into two heroines' alternating POVs as they fight for their space in an unjust world. Well-choreographed action sequences keep the battles interesting, while characters embark on a fetch quest layered in corporate conspiracies. Gong's worldbuilding addresses themes of identity, reality, and race, with the heroines' statuses as second-class citizens vital to the plot. Subtle foreshadowing is hidden behind humor and emotional highs, ensuring attentive readers are rewarded but still surprised. The cast consists of a variety of races and orientations. VERDICT This inventive and explosive beginning to a cyberpunk trilogy is a first purchase.-Emmy Neal © Copyright 2025. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | Booklist (October 1, 2025 (Vol. 122, No. 3)) Grades 9-12. In a NileCorp-conceived future, even cold war is played out in a virtual, largely AI-replicate space. Refugee orphans from Medaluo are effectively forced to enlist in NileCorp’s armed forces after incurring substantial debt from their mandatory military academy attendance in their unenthusiastic new home in Atahua. Lia and Eirale are two such wards of the state; Lia is barely functional outside of her extended virtual stays at her prestigious academy, while Eirale has a massive gap in her memory following her own end-of-education posting. The worlds—virtual and physical—that Eirale and Lia inhabit as they are thrust into cold war shenanigans unashamedly driven by capitalism require an immense amount of explanation, but that explanation is provided naturally and will not overwhelm genre connoisseurs. Gong’s eye for balancing serious social issues, high-stakes espionage, and moments of levity carries well from her successes writing historical fiction. Although Lia and Eirale are fascinatingly complex, side characters are not neglected in development. Overall, a fresh, disturbing take on dystopia from a more AI-informed world. | Kirkus Reviews (November 1, 2025) Ready Player One meets Six of Crows in this pacy cyberpunk adventure. In a future world ravaged by floods, toxic air, and global pandemics, most people have left their physical bodies downcountry in Pods that keep them alive and migrated upcountry to StrangeLoom, a virtual reality created by NileCorp, a powerful global conglomerate based in Atahua. Atahua is in a state of tension with nearby Medaluo, and it depends on NileCorp-trained soldiers for defense and to control the civil unrest triggered by the corporation’s steady erosion of the economy through AI and surveillance. On a mission to apprehend an anarchist in Atahua, Eirale Ward, a downcountry NileCorp soldier, finds herself framed for a murder and then kidnapped by her quarry. Before long, she’s coerced into helping his team steal critical files from Medaluo. In a parallel narrative, Lia Ward, the adopted daughter of an Atahuan senator, is a star student at StrangeLoom’s Nile Military Academy. On her first posting, she’s sent virtually into Medaluo to track down and capture Chung Yin, the inventor of Coldwire, an AI weapon that could give Medaluo control over StrangeLoom. With classmate and rival Kieren in tow—and a romance ready to blossom—Lia follows a trail of cyber breadcrumbs. This series opener maintains a crackling pace, with inventive worldbuilding and a cleverly executed reveal. The characters, while largely well developed, occasionally feel like stock players, however. Atahuans present as white, while Medans read Asian. Inventive and engaging. (map) (Dystopian thriller. 14-18) | |||||||||||||
6 | SR | -Fic- | Downfall | Above the Black | 3 | Gregson, Marc J | 2026 | Young Adult | YA | Ages 14-18 | 1 | Kirkus Reviews (November 15, 2025) Conrad’s battle against his tyrannical uncle reaches its climax in this conclusion to the Above the Black trilogy. At the end of Among Serpents (2025), King Ulrich of Urwin conducted a brutal purge. Now he’s casting his nephew, Conrad, and 1,000 soldiers who are deemed disloyal into the perilous Below. Presumed dead, Conrad resurfaces under an assumed name, gathering ships, new allies, and old friends as he works toward an inevitable showdown with his uncle. Themes of leadership, sacrifice, and the cost of power thread through the narrative as Conrad grapples with the balance between mercy and strength as embodied by his mother’s pacifism and his father’s warrior ethos. He also relies heavily on the loyalty and quick thinking of his companions, who pull him out of danger time and again. Sebastian makes another appearance as a recurring villain, but his lack of growth renders him flat. The importance of trust and friendship remains central, with the found family crew providing both comic relief and heartfelt moments. The political purges and tests of loyalty echo contemporary conflicts, lending the fantasy a sharp edge. Unfortunately, the novel is bogged down by its length and pacing issues; too great a percentage of the book is devoted to monster battles in the Below that become tiresome. There’s some racial diversity among the supporting characters surrounding the white-presenting central cast. A fittingly epic but overstuffed finale weighed down by repetition. (Science fiction. 14-18) | ||||||||||||||||
7 | TW/KR | -Fic- | Fake skating | Painter, Lynn | 2025 | Young Adult | YA | Grades 9-12 | Ages 14-18 | Ages 14-up | Gr 9-Up | 4 | School Library Journal (September 1, 2025) Gr 9 Up-Dani and Alec are childhood besties who only saw each other the summer Dani visited her grandparents in Minneapolis. The last time Dani saw Alec was in middle school, right before the falling out between her parents and Grandpa Mick. Her dad's job in the Air Force caused her family to move all around the country and the world. Her parents never had the perfect marriage, but their divorce has Dani reeling, and suddenly they are moving away from their last station in Germany, all the way back to Minnesota to live with her grandpa. Alec has changed a lot since the last time Dani saw him. No longer is he the short, awkward nerd that she remembers. He is an over six-foot-tall hockey god, beloved by the masses. A huge misunderstanding soon puts them in a compromising position, only fixed by Dani pretending to be Alec's new girlfriend. True to the title, this book follows the fake dating trope to a T. Told in alternating chapters from both Dani and Alec's perspectives, the mystery of why Dani and Alec lost touch with each other is not revealed until the end of the book. This is a feel-good rom-com that accurately portrays the insecurity, complexity, and earnest sweetness of a high school relationship. VERDICT While seemingly formulaic at times, what good romance novel isn't? Give this one to any lover of the genre.-Sara Brunkhorst © Copyright 2025. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | Booklist (September 1, 2025 (Vol. 122, No. 1)) Grades 9-12. Acclaimed rom-com author Painter’s latest has all her signature ingredients—sharp banter, swoony tension, and characters that feel real. Dani and Alec were inseparable as kids, when Dani would visit for one month per summer. Years later, she’s returning to Minnesota to live there full time, only to discover that her once-nerdy bestie is now a hockey superstar. Cue a fake dating scheme, a whirlwind of complicated feelings, and lots of miscommunication, all of which add up to undeniable chemistry. Alongside the main plot between Alec and Dani, Painter thoughtfully and authentically explores issues of mental health in Dani’s struggle with anxiety and panic attacks. Adding to the book’s atmosphere and charm are a divorced-parents subplot, lots of heartening grandpa bonding, and a Minnesota winter aesthetic. In a story that’s sweet, realistic, and brimming with heart, Painter proves once again that she’s adept at making readers laugh, swoon, and feel seen. Readers who like the childhood-friends-to-lovers trope will surely be invested in Dani and Alec. Hand to teens who can’t get enough of hockey romances. | Kirkus Reviews (September 1, 2025) When star hockey player Alec Barczewski’s estranged childhood friend, Dani Collins, moves to town, they end up in a mutually beneficial fake-dating relationship that reignites old feelings. Following her parents’ divorce, Dani and her mom move in with Dani’s hockey legend grandfather in Southview, Minnesota, where she spent a month every summer as a child and where her friendship with Alec grew. Between visits, the two were pen pals, but they eventually fell out of touch. Despite some tensions over their loss of friendship, the high school seniors reconnect. Desperate to get off Harvard’s waitlist, Dani needs another extracurricular activity, while Alec—whose reputation took a hit when a photo of him holding a bong appeared on social media—is eager to improve his tarnished image for NHL scouts. The pair strike a deal: They’ll fake date, making Alec look like a stable guy whose academically gifted girlfriend is related to hockey royalty, and in exchange, he’ll get Dani a team manager position that will catch the eye of Harvard’s admissions officers. Eventually, complicated feelings about their past, stressful family relationships, and their brewing romance boil over. Romance fans will love the deliciously tension-filled scenes between Alec and Dani, who are believable friends with heavy demands weighing on them. They feel like real teenagers, and readers will enjoy rooting for them as the well-paced story unfolds. Main characters present white. A compelling romance inhabited by complex and appealing characters. (Romance. 14-18) | |||||||||||||
8 | TW/KR | -Fic- | I Am the Swarm | Chewins, Hayley | 2026 | Young Adult | YA | Grades 9-12 | Ages 14-18 | Ages 14-up | Gr 10-Up | 5 | School Library Journal Xpress starred (July 18, 2025) Gr 10 Up-A powerful novel in verse for readers who enjoy magical realism. Nell Strand's 15th birthday arrives with a price: magic. While it is often said to be a gift, magic has been nothing but a curse for the women in her family. Her mother's volatile personality changes daily between a careless teenager and a responsible adult. Her sister, Mora, is in a mental hospital to protect her from cutting the music out of her veins. Nell is often left to her own devices. When her magic comes in the form of insects dependent upon her feelings, she is forced to feel all the things she kept locked away. Chewins's beautiful verse is skillfully done, and her words will evoke many emotions among readers. Teens will identify with the chaos of Nell's life and feelings and her need to control them. Nell faces many of her problems without guidance or support from her parents, until she realizes she does have people she can ask for help. Fans of Elizabeth Acevedo's The Poet X will find this title just as compelling. This coming-of-age tale tackles difficult topics, including self-harm, sexual harassment, and suicide; the book begins with a content warning. Nell's father is described as an English man and her mother and grandmother speak Afrikaans. VERDICT An intensely emotional read. Highly recommended for high school collections.-Lisa Buffi © Copyright 2025. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | Horn Book Magazine (May/June, 2025) In this Cape Town-set verse novel, each woman in the Strand family gains magical abilities when she turns fifteen. As Nell Strand approaches her fifteenth birthday, she is painfully aware of the potential dangers that can accompany this "gift." Her older sister, Mora, carries songs underneath her skin -- and has been hospitalized for trying to cut the music out. Their mother's age changes daily, and there is no guarantee she'll have the maturity on any given day to be the parent Nell or Mora needs. Nell's gift is that her emotions manifest as insects: ladybugs when she feels hopeful, blue stick insects for sadness, beetles and flies during uncomfortable interactions with her piano teacher, and wasps when she becomes angry. Nell's attempts to suppress her feelings result in a vicious cycle of disordered eating, and it will take everything in her to do the one thing she fears most: face the swarm. While the book covers dark themes (parental neglect, molestation, suicidal ideation), positive elements including a budding relationship with a new boy at school help reframe Nell's perspective. Vividly and fluidly written verse ("The moths thrill and flutter, a thousand little shadows / Mama lets go of me. I lose her in all the gray") sets a gradual pace that allows readers to immerse themselves in Nell's complex reality and her path to womanhood in a world both harsh and hopeful. Eboni Njoku May/June 2025 p.83 | Booklist starred (February 1, 2025 (Vol. 121, No. 11)) Grades 9-12. Strand women always get their magic at age 15. Nell’s sister Mora’s gift is that she bleeds music, and her increasing desperation for release has landed her in the hospital after a near-death experience. Their mother’s magic is her age constantly shifting, and her resulting unpredictability and unreliability keep her from being able to provide any real support for her daughters. When Nell’s own magic appears, it manifests as swarms of insects that betray her feelings: ladybugs when she plays piano, beetles when she’s afraid, stick insects when she’s sad. But worst of all are the wasps that come when she’s angry; they’re dangerous and revealing too much of her truth. If she can wrap her anger up tightly enough and smother it with other feelings, she can keep the wasps at bay. But as the effects of her family’s instability combine with the trauma of continued abuse from a trusted adult, all the black butterflies of Nell’s sexuality won’t stop the wasps from swarming. In verse that flies across the page, Chewins weaves multiple apt metaphors with sensory detail, exploring the generational compounding of mental health struggles for a girl dealing with ongoing assault. An infusion of Nell’s mother’s native Afrikaans accompanies themes of music as a powerful tool for self-expression and anger as an important self-protective measure in this one-sitting read. | |||||||||||||
9 | TW/KR | -Fic- | On again, awkward again | Kelly, Erin Entrada | 2025 | Young Adult | YA | Grades 7-10 | Ages 12-16 | Ages 13-up | Gr 6-10 | 5 | School Library Journal starred (April 1, 2025) Gr 6-10-Pacy and Cecil meet in the nurse's office near the start of their freshman year, and it's anything but cute. The nurse is treating Pacy's busted and profusely bleeding lip, while Cecil has rushed to use the private bathroom when his IBS flares up. Cecil, a drummer and Star Wars expert, designs his own clothes. Somewhat-klutzy Pacy adheres to Star Trek: The Next Generation and feels that the whole student body is filled with "Borgs"-assimilated and boring. Neither is looking for love, but each feels butterflies immediately when they meet. When they both get added to the freshman formal committee, they get a chance to know one another better, but the mishaps begin to add up. The twist to this quite adorable novel, told by Pacy and Cecil in alternating chapters, is not will they get together, but how can they possibly get together when the universe seems to be conspiring against them? Collaborators Kelly (a two-time Newbery winner) and Mbalia (of "Tristan Strong" fame) match each other word for word with moments that are both laugh-out-loud and tender. Some subplots might not completely come to fruition, but the lead characters and their supportive friends and family make this book rise above its plot. Readers will want to spend time with these characters, even once Pacy and Cecil become one of "those" couples. Pacy is Filipino American; Cecil is Black. VERDICT Completely charming and pithy, with laughs galore, this romance should be in all middle school and high school collections.-Kate Fleming © Copyright 2025. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | Horn Book Magazine (May/June, 2025) A clumsy accident and an IBS incident lead to an unlikely meet-cute between Pacy Mercado and Cecil Holloway, two high school freshmen whose quirks make them stand out. Immediately, sparks fly, and the teens fall for each other, but with this new, unexpected first-romance-in-the-making comes countless trials and tribulations, as the universe seems determined to make every encounter between them as catastrophically awkward as possible. Questionable advice from others and their own misguided impressions about romance add to the mix, while the responsibility of planning the freshman formal dance on a weekly committee creates some forced proximity, which is both blessing and curse. Once they learn to take the awkwardness in stride, they can be their best imperfect selves around each other. Kelly and Mbalia create a dynamic duo, animating their characters through first-person narration packed with personality and pop-culture references engineered to appeal to audiences of a nerdy persuasion. Readers will laugh out loud, cringe in secondhand embarrassment, and root for these two geeky teens of color to get their rom-com happy ending. Shenwei Chang May/June 2025 p.90 | Booklist (April 1, 2025 (Vol. 121, No. 15)) Grades 7-10. Being a teenager is hard enough, but when you add in being a freshman in high school and experiencing love at first sight? The indignities never end! Pacy Mercado and Cecil Holloway fall into a crush with each other the second they meet, awkwardly, in the nurse’s office on the first day of high school. After being thrown together to plan the freshman formal, their crushes deepen, but they’re each unsure if they will be able to overcome the obstacles to get together. Between allergic reactions, questionable advice from friends and family, and their own insecurities, Pacy and Cecil will have to work hard to make their love a reality. This charming early YA novel, cowritten by award-winning middle-grade authors Kelly and Mbalia, occupies a much-needed space on the shelf as it features younger teenagers. Written in dual third-person point of view, it will have teens of all ages busting a gut laughing at the protagonists’ antics. A refreshingly honest look at the beauty—and embarrassment—of love. | |||||||||||||
10 | TW/KR | -Fic- | One step forward | Atkins, Marcie Flinchum | 2025 | Young Adult | YA | Grades 9-12 | Ages 13-18 | Ages 13-up | Gr 7-Up | 4 | School Library Journal starred (March 1, 2025) Gr 7 Up-Historical fiction based on the real suffragist Matilda Young, who was imprisoned for protesting for the right to vote. Her narrative, in verse, covers the years of the Wilson presidency and the push to get the 19th Amendment through Congress and the states. Matilda, her sisters, and mother are suffragists, but her father and brother are not. These conflicts at home mirror the larger divide in society over suffrage. Two of her sisters' participation in the National Women's Association gives Matilda entrance into the suffrage movement. Her sister Sophia provides moral support with notes of encouragement. The poems have titles, dates, a count of days picketing, or an X as Matilda marks the days until her release from jail. The poetry reflects the events and emotions-a square concrete poem for her jail cell, text side by side as she and Sophia walk and talk, and shrinking text as Matilda feels silenced. Quotes from speeches and documents included are in italics. Women finding and employing their voices is a theme throughout. Matilda tells of her time in the workhouse, "I scream for hours calling out using my voice until it's hoarse." The violence historically dealt the suffragists from the public, police, and jailers is described in detail, bringing home with clarity the brutality they faced. Extensive notes are provided in the back matter. Additional information, a time line, and several bibliographies provide more details and facts. VERDICT This coming-of-age story intertwined with women's fight to vote creates a forceful story while chronicling parts of the suffrage movement often ignored. Strong general purchase.-Tamara Saarinen © Copyright 2025. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | Booklist (February 1, 2025 (Vol. 121, No. 11)) Grades 9-12. Atkins’ excellent novel in verse tells the story of the fight by suffragists for women’s right to vote, as seen through the eyes of Matilda Young, a real person who is also the protagonist of this novel. Readers meet her when, in 1913, she is 14 and secretly watching the Woman Suffrage Procession in Washington, DC. She becomes a volunteer sorting mail at National Woman’s Party headquarters and, as the years pass, becomes more involved in the movement, becoming, at 19, a full-time worker operating the switchboard at NWP headquarters. She joins picket lines and becomes the youngest suffragist and the youngest to be jailed for her actions. The text brings the 15 days Matilda spends in jail to vivid life, dramatizing the inhumane treatment the suffragists received. Though sometimes exhausted and discouraged, Matilda never gives up, continuing her protests and getting arrested and jailed again and again as the movement slowly makes progress toward eventual victory. Atkins has done a superb job of research, bringing her material to life in an important book ideal for classroom use. | Kirkus Reviews starred (January 1, 2025) In this verse novel based on real people and events, four sisters support one another in the turbulent fight for women’s right to vote in early-20th-century America. Matilda Young, nearly 15, lives in Washington, D.C., with her parents, older brother, and three older sisters. She observes that there’s a “fault line in our family— / men vs. women,” one exacerbated by the question of suffrage. Matilda is afraid to engage in public action that might lead to her arrest and initially agrees to sort mail at the headquarters of the Congressional Union, a group that’s pushing for an amendment that would give women the vote. She also takes on a vital caregiving role within the movement. Matilda’s mother encourages her: “The actions you take each day / add up / even if they seem small,” and eventually Matilda starts picketing at the White House, even as her dad and brother criticize her and the cause she believes in. As World War I drags on, police action against suffragists escalates, resulting in some imprisoned women going on hunger strikes. The verse structure successfully conveys the grit, trauma, and violence of the times, adeptly emphasizing the activists’ doubt, pride, persistence, and exhaustion. Atkins’ skillful use of concrete poetry greatly enhances the work. Most characters are white; the book explores class conflicts as well as African American women’s struggles for the vote. Powerful, necessary reading. (dramatis personae, author’s note, historical notes, timeline, quotes, places to visit, further reading, sources) (Verse historical fiction. 13-18) | |||||||||||||
11 | TW/KR | -Fic- | Shadowed | Deuker, Carl | 2024 | Young Adult | YA | Ages 13-18 | Ages 13-up | Gr 6-9 | 3 | School Library Journal (November 1, 2024) Gr 6-9-Sports fiction is rife with tales of young people demonstrating personal development alongside athletic growth. Told over several years, Deuker's latest YA novel introduces readers to Nate, a benchwarmer on his soccer team who dreams of glory on the basketball court. His best bet to improve his skills is his talented neighbor, Lucas, who pushes Nate literally and figuratively, as their relationship goes from harmonious to hostile to star teammates. A tragic accident makes readers aware that the title refers to the shadow of Lucas that looms over Nate as he ups his game, slowly coming into himself as a basketball player and a person. However, readers may wish that loyal, nuanced underdog Lucas was the focus of the story, instead of existing as someone else's motivation. This novel might have been an adequate hi-lo sports-centric recommendation, but is likely too lengthy for striving readers. Luckily, the chapters are brief, helping it go down faster and easier than expected. VERDICT A basketball tome for die-hard fans of sports fiction.-Alexandra Quay © Copyright 2024. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | Kirkus Reviews (September 15, 2024) Nate Dravus has lived in his older sister Amelia’s shadow, but now he’s trying to find his own path. Soccer is an obsession in Nate’s Seattle home, but he’s a mediocre player who doesn’t enjoy the game. Meanwhile, Amelia garners a full-ride scholarship to the University of California, Berkeley. When Nate summons the courage to tell his parents he’d rather play basketball, they agree to let him switch but refuse to pay for the club he wants to join. Nate is crushed—his parents don’t encourage him the way they do Amelia, and worse, he overhears them making cruel remarks about his soccer abilities. But Nate is disciplined and driven—and soon he’s playing regularly with new neighbor Lucas Cawley, who’s a beast on the court. The two of them become unstoppable. Lucas stands out for other reasons—his family is poor, his parents are often absent, and he’s a devoted caregiver to his twin sister, Megan, who has unspecified special needs. Bullies call him Creepy Crawley. When tragedy strikes, Nate is unprepared to deal with his intense feelings. This fast-paced story takes place over the course of Nate’s high school years. Deuker’s prose, which evokes the excitement of sports announcers, will keep readers spellbound, and the short chapters make this an accessible work for reluctant readers. Unfortunately, Megan feels more like a plot device than a fully fleshed-out individual. The main characters are white. A page-turning sports story that delves into a boy’s emotional growth. (Fiction. 13-18) | Publishers Weekly (September 2, 2024) Hoping to prove himself as a competent basketball player, Nate sets his sights on classmates Colin and Bo. Though they play for a select club group as well as the high school varsity team, Nate is certain he can compete with them. He recruits neighbor Lucas to play on the local rec team with him. The two haven’t been friends since grade school, during which Lucas was given the derisive nickname Creepy Crawley when classmates found him playing with his sister, who has a learning disability, during recess, but they have chemistry on the court. They make a pact: "We just have to keep pushing each other, getting better every day. No quitting." They eventually make their way onto the club team with Colin and Bo, but when a prank goes sideways, Nate is left reeling. In this straightforward underdog tale, Deuker (Golden Arm) supports explorations of friendship, family, dreams, and grief with high-octane gameplay; utilitarian writing and action-packed chapters propel this empathetic sports novel with an emotional arc that tugs at the heartstrings. Main characters read as white. Ages 13-up. (Nov.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved. | ||||||||||||||
12 | TW/KR | -Fic- | Sibylline | De la Cruz, Melissa | 2026 | Young Adult | YA | Grades 9-12 | Ages 17-adult | Ages 14-up | Gr 10-Up | 4 | School Library Journal starred (December 1, 2025) Gr 10 Up-A coming-of-age fantasy that quickly unfolds into a magical and deadly mystery of life and death. Raven, Dorian, and Atticus are magic-users, enrolled in a special program at their preparatory school for people with magical talent. They've all applied to Sibylline, and the three of them meet and open their responses together. There are rumors that the school doesn't accept nonlegacy students, but the Supreme Court of Magicians ruled there was nothing discriminatory in Sibylline's policies. However, when none of them get in, they quickly implement a plan that will get them on campus, hopefully to gain chances to learn how to use their magic. What they don't expect are the dangers. De la Cruz's use of quotes at the beginning of every chapter keeps readers engaged and questioning what is coming up in the chapter based on the quote. They have the added benefit of introducing readers to a huge variety of authors, artists, and philosophers from across the ages. In addition to high-caliber lyrical writing and thought-provoking style, de la Cruz ("Blue Bloods") also provides a vehicle for reflection. This book combines elements of magic, a dark sense of danger, and characters with powers who need to decide whether they could or should use them. There is a mature love scene toward the end. Atticus has brown skin; Dorian has "smooth milky-white skin," blond hair, and green eyes; Raven has black hair and dark eyes. VERDICT A must-have for older teen collections.-Cathleen Ash © Copyright 2025. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | Booklist (December 1, 2025 (Vol. 122, No. 7)) Grades 9-12. New York Times best-selling author de la Cruz delivers a thrilling dark academia romantasy in this story about Sibylline, an elite magic college. Raven, Atticus, and Dorian are not enrolled at Sibylline, to their deep disappointment, but this trio of distinct, fully realized characters isn’t letting that stop them from getting the magical education they desire. In chapters alternating among the three characters’ first-person perspectives, readers follow the teens as they manage to get jobs on campus and sneak into forbidden lectures. But while they’re making somewhat chaotic choices and dealing with insecurity about their own magical abilities—not to mention the undercurrent of unrequited romantic feelings that could fracture their friendship—they also discover something dangerous at Sibylline, which is corrupting the students and the school itself. In her signature lush prose and twisty plotting, de la Cruz’s cinematic, emotionally charged duology starter sets realistic romantic tension against a compelling central magical mystery that will have readers eager to find out what happens in book two. | Kirkus Reviews (December 1, 2025) Three friends are devastated when they receive letters of rejection from Sibylline College of Magical Arts, the Ivy League equivalent “for the magically inclined”; little do they know that danger lurks behind its hallowed stone walls. Desperate to understand their own powerful forms of magic, Raven Chen, Atticus Garcia, and Dorian Winthrop leave New York City for Vermont, taking staff jobs at the college in hopes of slipping into lectures and accessing lesson plans. Ensconced in strategic positions around campus, they quickly discover that the school isn’t the idyllic institution of learning they’d imagined it to be. Its history is filled with dark secrets, and when someone turns up murdered, the administration seems to know more than they’re letting on. To expose the truth, the trio must push their magical abilities (and their tangled feelings for one another) further than ever before, even if it means shattering the glittering facade of the country’s most elite magical college. This duology opener, with its shadowy library, cobblestone streets, and bookshop cafe where the characters eat cinnamon rolls, captures cozy dark academia at its best. However, too much time is spent rehashing the trio’s romantic feelings for each other, diluting the central mystery. An unexpectedly explicit sex scene toward the end feels jarringly out of place relative to the rest of the book, making the intended audience unclear. Names and physical descriptions cue ethnic diversity among the cast members. Dorian presents white. Richly atmospheric but unevenly executed. (Fantasy. 17-adult) | |||||||||||||
13 | TW/KR | -Fic- | Sky's end | Above the Black | 1 | Gregson, Marc J | 2024 | Young Adult | YA | Grades 9-12 | Ages 14-18 | Ages 14-up | Gr 8-Up | 4 | School Library Journal Xpress (April 5, 2024) Gr 8 Up-Dueling cane in hand, 16-year-old Conrad fights to provide for his sickly mother after the death of his father sent the pair tumbling down the rungs of the Meritocracy in disgrace. When a metallic sky serpent decimates Conrad's home, killing his mother, he finds himself embroiled in the machinations of his uncle: the man who is responsible for their misfortune and who has kept custody of Conrad's sister, Ella. Striving for unassailable social status, Conrad is selected as a Hunter, where he struggles to overcome his mistrust of others in order to survive the frequently deadly training and succeed as a leader. With a writing style and plot presentation that hails back to Catherine Fisher's Incarceron, Conrad's story religiously adheres, beat by beat, to the formula readers have come to expect from young adult dystopian books. This allows the plot to move quickly, eschewing extended explanations in favor of high-octane scenes filled with metal-clad creatures and occasional high-drama interpersonal character clashes. However, this pacing and narrative focus results in a muddled overall plot, since it is not conducive to satisfactorily conveying the complexity of the Meritocracy, a society which has two simultaneously parallel and intersecting social hierarchies. Conrad and other primary characters are not presented as a particularly diverse crew and a general white default is adhered to. VERDICT Not a priority purchase, but a fun addition to collections serving teens in their vintage dystopian era.-Austin Ferraro © Copyright 2024. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | Booklist starred (December 1, 2023 (Vol. 120, No. 7)) Grades 9-12. In the Meritocracy, rising is everything. A single duel can raise or lower an entire family’s status. Conrad of Urwin has fallen from High to Low after the death of his father. Just barely scraping by, he is determined to rise again and free his younger sister from his vicious uncle. He joins the Selection and is drafted by Hunter, the most dangerous Trade of all the Select. In Hunter, he will have the chance to rise but also faces the daily risk of death by gorgantauns—massive metal and steel beasts that threaten the floating islands upon which the society of the Meritocracy lives. While fighting for survival, Conrad must also contend with his bully cousin Pound, the mysterious Bryce of Damon, and reconciling his need to rise at all costs with the unexpected friendships he is making on the ship. When an even bigger threat emerges, and it becomes harder to distinguish friend from foe, Conrad has to reconsider everything he knows about the world he lives in. This debut YA fantasy has an intricate class-based dystopia, teeth-clenching and gory battle scenes, complex and well-developed characters with constantly evolving relationships, found family, loyalty, and a hint of romance. First in an upcoming trilogy, this book is highly recommended to readers who love fantasy and dystopia. | Kirkus Reviews starred (October 15, 2023) To save his younger sister from their villainous uncle, a 16-year-old enters a perilous contest that involves killing massive sky serpents. Anyone living on the socially stratified floating islands can rise in status by dueling or entering a Trade. Conrad, once a High, is demoted after his uncle kills his father and assumes the role of Archduke. After his mother is killed, Conrad tries to reunite with Ella, the sister his uncle abducted, but Uncle demands that he first enter the Selection and rise through the ranks of one of the Twelve Trades. Chosen by Hunter, which is responsible for exterminating the menacing, steel-scaled gorgantauns, Conrad is soon taking part in the Gauntlet, a deadly contest between airships to see which crew can kill the most gorgantauns. But he won’t just have to battle sky serpents—Conrad also faces the ever-present threat of mutiny, a murder attempt, and shifting loyalties. Amid budding friendships, the crew unearths startling truths about their world, revealing a more profound conflict than Conrad envisioned. Gregson’s YA debut provides a skillful blend of action, suspense, and comic relief. After each airship battle, readers can barely draw breath before political intrigues turn the story on its head, but this is also a touching story of found family and personal growth. Most major characters read white; in this racially diverse world, one crew member has dark skin. A thrilling and brilliantly realized series opener; readers will clamor for the next installment. (Fantasy. 14-18) | |||||||||||
14 | TW/KR | -Fic- | The amber spyglass | Pullman, Philip | 2025 | Middle School | 5-8 | Ages 12-up | Gr 6-Up | 11 | School Library Journal (October 1, 2001) Gr 6 Up-With The Amber Spyglass (Knopf, 2000), Philip Pullman completes his epic trilogy, collectively titled, His Dark Materials. The young heroine, Lyra Belacqua, is still battling the evil forces that inhabit the warring fantasy cosmos introduced in The Golden Compass (Knopf ,1996), and continued in The Subtle Knife (Knopf ,1997). In this volume, Lyra is rescued from her often unscrupulous mother by her trusted companion, Will. Will and Lyra endure a perilous journey to the land of the dead, and reconnect with Dr. Mary Malone who has made the all-important spyglass. After encounters with helpful angels, demons and witches, as well as difficulties with clergy and theologians, the pair fulfill their destiny. With this comes a deeper understanding of the dangers to their universe, and eventually, painful, but necessary choices. Pullman does a first class job as narrator of his language-rich text. He is joined by a superb cast of 40 British actors who bring the book's large and diverse array of characters into sharp focus. This fine recording is almost a stage play in a box, and it is a solid purchase for both school and public libraries. Considering the book's 500 plus pages, the recording is likely to be a very popular way for fans both young and old to conclude Pullman's classically-inspired saga.-Barbara Wysocki, Cora J. Belden Library, Rocky Hill, CT Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information. | Horn Book Magazine (November/December, 2001) Pullman continues his superb performance as the narrator of His Dark Materials, his outstanding trilogy, in this concluding volume. The cast of the two earlier recordings remains mostly the same; only Will has changed, Peter England now providing the more mature, confident voice appropriate to the young hero. At almost thirty-five hours of total listening time, this is a production and a world that will capture listeners and transport them beyond the grip of ordinary time. | Kirkus Reviews starred (September 15, 2000) The longed-for third volume in this trilogy (The Golden Compass, 1996; The Subtle Knife, 1997) satisfies deeply: full of grand set pieces, resplendent language, and glorious storytelling. Lyra Silvertongue at 12, from a world like but unlike this one, is keeper of the alethiometer--the golden compass. She can read its ways to find the truth, but it has been taken from her. Will Parry, of this world, injured by the subtle knife that can cut windows between worlds, will bring it back to her. And in yet another place, an Oxford researcher makes a spyglass that enables her to see the golden patterns of Dust, stuff of the universe. All of the splendid characters of the earlier books make a return, like Pan, Lyra's daemon, part of her very self; Iorek Byrnison the bear king; and Lyra's bewitching parents, Lord Asriel and the terrifying Mrs. Coulter. Whole new races appear: a panoply of angels; the mulefa, whose triangulated legs use the wheel in a new way; the brave and dashing Gallivespians, who live but a decade and are small enough to ride dragonflies. Across this brilliant and vivid canvas, the largest of themes play out: life and death, goodness and evil, self and other, the redemptive power of love. Lyra and Will's quest is hard and heartbreaking: they can only rely on themselves and each other to save their worlds, and the cost is great. There are roaring battles and moments of great tenderness; there are unforgettable scenes--Lyra and Will leading ghosts through the land of the dead, for example--and not a few echoes of Paradise Lost with some deeply unconventional theological implications. What matters at the last are the stories, and the truth of their telling. Readers will be chastened--and warmed--and sorry to see the last page. (Fiction. 12+) | |||||||||||||||
15 | TW/KR | -Fic- | The girl you know | Rose, Elle Gonzalez | 2025 | Young Adult | YA | Ages 14-18 | Ages 14-up | Gr 9-Up | 3 | School Library Journal starred (February 1, 2025) Gr 9 Up-Now that her twin sister Solina has been murdered, Luna feels completely alone. Their mother died years ago after which their father succumbed to alcoholism, and Luna has been working 80-hour weeks to afford Solina's private boarding school, Kingswood Academy. Desperate for answers and well aware that her poor, Puerto Rican sister's death is not going to be taken seriously by law enforcement, Luna convinces her beloved roommate/guardian Tiffany (who is trans, Black, and fiercely warm and protective) to drive her to Kingswood, where she will pretend to be Solina for as long as it takes to find out what happened to her. When she arrives, what she finds instead is a series of lies Solina has told that may lead her to the killer; no one at Kingswood is who they claim to be. An unrealistic set-up can be easily forgiven in the face of this incredibly fast-paced and twisting mystery exploring how little we sometimes know those closest to us. Haunted by the fight that was their last conversation, Luna experiences violent and aching grief as she discovers Solina's real reasons for wanting to leave Kingswood and decides who she wants to be moving forward, as well as just how much vengeance to exact, and against whom. VERDICT Fast and furious; a must-buy anywhere gritty murder mysteries circulate.-Allie Stevens © Copyright 2025. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | Kirkus Reviews starred (December 15, 2024) A cunning tale in which a twin’s quest for justice pulls her closer to a killer while unraveling everything she thought she knew about her sister. In this gripping novel, Puerto Rican identical twins Luna and Solina Flores face immense challenges that culminate in tragedy when Solina’s body is discovered floating in a river, bearing signs of violence. Luna had sacrificed her education, dropping out of school as a sophomore to work at a diner, to support her sister’s dream of attending prestigious boarding school Kingswood Academy. Their relationship became strained when Solina expressed reluctance to return for her final semester at Kingswood; Luna’s last words to Solina during their fight haunt her, and she grapples with feelings of guilt. The police treat the case as an open-and-shut matter, leaving Luna frustrated and determined to uncover the truth. Impersonating her sister, Luna leaves their rural Eastern Washington town and goes to Kingswood to investigate. There she uncovers the elite institution’s dark underbelly. The narrative effectively portrays the complexities of grief and Luna’s emotional turmoil, capturing the push and pull of loss, hidden sorrows, and the fierce desire for justice. Gonzalez Rose vividly renders Luna’s feelings when she’s confronting potential suspects. Ultimately, the novel delivers a bittersweet conclusion that resonates with the harsh realities of losing a loved one. The epilogue emphasizes the importance of embracing change. Masterfully balances themes of justice and acceptance, offering profound lessons on grief and letting go. (Thriller. 14-18) | Publishers Weekly (November 11, 2024) After the police declare high school senior Solina Flores’s death an accident, her identical twin sister Luna resolves to prove it was murder by finding the killer. Impersonating Solina, Luna infiltrates her twin’s school, Kingswood Academy, whose tuition Luna dropped out of public school to help pay in their late parents’ absence. Stepping into Solina’s shoes reveals a web of secrets surrounding her wealthy boyfriend Hunter and the expensive designer clothes she’d borrow from similarly affluent friend Poppy. As Luna navigates academic pressures and the complex school social scene, she must also confront her growing feelings for Solina’s cello prodigy roommate Claudia. It soon becomes clear that the only way to learn more about her sister’s death is by understanding herself in this potent portrait of loss and identity. Character interactions informed by economic disparity and the school’s commitment to upholding an unbalanced social hierarchy present a grounded mystery by Rose (10 Things I Hate About Prom) that is both an indictment and reflection of the unjust systems that allow instances of sexual violence to go unpunished. Characters are described as having various skin tones. Ages 14-up. Agent: Uwe Stender, Triada US. (Feb.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved. | ||||||||||||||
16 | TW/KR | -Fic- | The golden compass | Pullman, Philip | 2014 | Middle School | 5-8 | Grades 7-12 | Ages 12-up | Gr 7-Up | 8 | School Library Journal (April 1996) Gr 7 Up--A novel set in London and in the Arctic regions of a world that is somewhat like our own. Lyra, apparently an orphan, lives among the scholars at Jordan College, Oxford. She becomes aware of a nefarious plot to steal children and transport them to the far north. As Lyra is drawn deeper and deeper into this mystery, she finds that the children are being made to suffer terribly. What she does not--and must not--know is that she is the keystone in an ancient prophecy. Her destiny is to save her world and to move on into a parallel universe. She dives headlong into harrowing adventures, totally unaware of her importance. She also discovers the identity of her parents, who are major players in the unfolding drama. In Lyra's world, every human has a daemon, an animal that is sort of an extension of one's soul. This fact is central to the story as the church, the academic world, and the government seek to understand the significance of the phenomenon. Also important, but never fully explained, is a substance called Dust. This is a captivating fantasy, filled with excitement, suspense, and unusual characters. The armored bears are wonderful and more interesting than most of the humans. There is some fine descriptive writing, filled with the kind of details that encourage suspension of disbelief. The story line moves along at a rapid clip, but flags when it delves into philosophical matters. The ending is less than satisfying, but serves as a lead-in to part two of the series. Fantasy lovers will be clamoring for the next installment.--Bruce Anne Shook, Mendenhall Middle School, Greensboro, NC | Booklist starred (Vol. 92, No. 13 (March 1, 1996)) Gr. 7-12. In the first of a planned trilogy, Pullman has created a wholly developed universe, which is, as he states, much like our own but different in many ways--a world in which humans are paired with animal "daemons" that seem like alter egos, only with personalities of their own. The story begins at Jordan College in Oxford, where young Lyra Belacqua and her daemon, Pantalaimon, are being reared and educated by the Scholars. Although a lackluster student, Lyra possesses an inordinate curiosity and sense of adventure, which lead her into forbidden territory on the night her uncle, Lord Asriel, visits. He's there to solicit funds for a return journey to the distant arctic wastes, where he has observed and photographed strange goings-on, including a mysterious phenomenon called Dust that streams from the sky and a dim outline of a city suspended in the Aurora, or Northern Lights, that he suspects is part of an alternate universe. After he leaves, Lyra finds herself placed in the charge of the mysterious Mrs. Coulter and in possession of a rare compasslike device that can answer questions if she learns how to read it. Already shocked by the disappearance of her best friend, Lyra discovers Mrs. Coulter's connection with the dreaded children-stealing Gobblers and runs away, joining a group of gyptians bound for the North to rescue missing children. Lyra has also learned that her uncle is being held prisoner in the North, guarded by formidable armored bears. Filled with fast-paced action, the plot involves a secret scientific facility, where children are being severed from their daemons; warring factions; witch clans; an outcast armored bear, who bonds with Lyra; and more. It becomes evident that the future of the world and its inhabitants is in the hands of the ever-more-resilient and dedicated Lyra. A totally involving, intricately plotted fantasy that will leave readers clamoring for the sequels. | Publishers Weekly (September 16, 2002) Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy now appears in sophisticated trade paperback editions, each title embossed within a runic emblem of antiqued gold. The backdrop of The Golden Compass: His Dark Materials, Book I sports a midnight blue map of the cosmos with the zodiacal ram at its center. The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass carry similarly intriguing cover art, and all three titles offer details not seen in the originals: in Compass and Knife, for example, Pullman's stamp-size b&w art introduces each chapter; Spyglass chapters open with literary quotes from Blake, the Bible, Dickinson and more. Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information. | ||||||||||||||
17 | TW/KR | -Fic- | The Otherwhere Post | Taylor, Emily J | 2025 | Young Adult | YA | Grades 9-12 | Ages 14-18 | Ages 12-up | Gr 9-Up | 4 | School Library Journal starred (February 1, 2025) Gr 9 Up-Eighteen-year-old Maeve Abenthy hasn't spoken her own name to anyone in years. It never goes well when people find out her father is the notorious scriptomancer responsible for unleashing what destroyed the world of Inverly and forced the burning of the Written Doors to contain it. Now, seven years later, there's still no travel between worlds and only the couriers of the Otherwhere Post are trained in the scriptomantic scribings that allow them to cross for deliveries; they've only just cleared their backlog of undelivered letters sent in the aftermath. Maeve is working at a shop under an assumed identity when she receives a seven-years' delayed letter saying that her father is actually innocent. She'll need to become a courier herself to uncover the truth, but can she infiltrate their rigorous and selective apprentice program while hiding who she really is? This dark academia fantasy features masterful worldbuilding, a wildly interesting new magic system, and a lovable cast of characters described with varying skin colors. Taylor has truly elevated her craft since her debut Hotel Magnifique. VERDICT This unputdownable adventure is highly recommended for all collections and perfect for fans of V.E. Schwab's "Shades of Magic" series.-Kayla Chamberlain © Copyright 2025. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | Booklist starred (December 1, 2024 (Vol. 121, No. 7)) Grades 9-12. Maeve Abenthy is used to moving often and hiding behind a fake name. Her father was deemed a murderer years ago, and she wants to distance herself from his infamy. While preparing to take on a new life in a new town, Maeve unexpectedly receives an anonymous letter stating that her father is innocent. Without a second thought, she travels to the Otherwhere Post under the guise of an apprentice to learn more about scriptomancy—magic combined with writing—and uncover who sent the mysterious letter. Her secret investigation allows her to learn more about her father but also invites danger as it’s clear that someone doesn’t want her poking into the past. Taylor weaves an intricate mystery while creating space for the young outcast to find acceptance. Everything in this sophomore work feels effortless: the slow-burn romance between Maeve and her mentor is satisfying, and the dangerous world of magic and letter writing is alluring. Maeve is a deeply empathetic character, as her initial instinct to run and hide transforms into a brave confidence, and the development of a supportive circle of friends is rewarding. With delicious layers that readers will love unraveling, this fantastical piece will positively whisk you away. | Kirkus Reviews starred (December 1, 2024) A teenage girl is inadvertently embroiled in a dangerous mystery. “Your father was innocent,” the letter reads. Is it the truth? A trap? Either way, 18-year-old Maeve Abenthy is unnerved by this message, signed by an anonymous “old friend” and delivered to her by an otherwhere courier seven years after it was written—and seven years after the Written Doors were destroyed and the citizens of Inverly were lost. These events were all thanks, allegedly, to the evildoing of her father, a once revered scriptomancer. Maeve has since been living under various aliases, terrified that she’ll be found out and punished for being an Abenthy. She knows that otherwhere couriers, the only people able to travel between worlds, use the magic of scriptomancy to deliver the post. A courier she questions about discovering the sender’s identity reveals information that sets in motion her quest for the truth about that fateful day—and her father’s involvement. Bestselling author Taylor’s transformative talent as a world builder shines in her sophomore novel, an epic dark fantasy tale of love, justice, the delicate magic of finding connection, and the complex art of scribing. The prose moves quickly while at the same time incorporating great detail. The main characters are layered, their pain and humanity on par with their abilities to tackle the puzzle before them. Redhaired Maeve is light-skinned; her father had “wheat-colored” skin, and there’s some diversity in skin tone in the supporting cast. A magically thrilling, gripping, and thoroughly enjoyable read. (Fantasy. 14-18) | |||||||||||||
18 | TW/KR | -Fic- | The scammer | Jackson, Tiffany D | 2025 | Young Adult | YA | Grades 10-12 | Ages 15-adult | Ages 14-up | Gr 9-Up | 4 | School Library Journal starred (September 1, 2025) Gr 9 Up-College freshman Jordyn is ready for a fresh start at historically Black college Frazier University. Her parents have been distant since the death of her brother and would rather she go to Yale. Determined to forge her own path and make the friends she lacked in high school, Jordyn is excited when she meets her three roommates at the start of the semester. All of that changes when her roommate Vanessa's brother Devonte, who was recently released from prison, moves in. His conspiracy theories and enigmatic presence draw in Jordyn's roommates as he gains a cultlike following around campus. As Devonte's ideas and actions get more radical and he asks for more psychologically and financially, it is up to Jordyn to save herself and her newfound sisters. Jordyn and her roommates show how easy it can be to be taken in by a scam artist when making the transition from home to adulthood. Readers will anxiously watch as even the strongest of characters begin to succumb to Devonte's psychological manipulations. Jordyn is not alone in her struggle to overcome Devonte's manipulations. The only white student on campus, Nick, who is also dealing with his own grief, comes to Jordyn's aid and serves as a potential romantic interest. Like most of Jackson's books, expect the unexpected until the very last page in a cautionary tale that will have readers anxious to see who will survive the machinations of a charismatic manipulator. VERDICT A highly recommended read for fans of young adult psychological thrillers and Jackson's previous works.-Ashley Leffel © Copyright 2025. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | Booklist starred (September 1, 2025 (Vol. 122, No. 1)) Grades 10-12. Jordyn Monroe turns down an offer at Yale, against her parents’ fervent wishes, to attend Frazier University, an HBCU in Washington, DC. Jordyn has many reasons for attending Frazier, not the least of which is wanting to finally fit in; she was one of few students of color in her high school. She quickly bonds with her three roommates, gaining friendships she never felt were allowed at home. However, when roommate Vanessa’s brother, Devonte, fresh out of prison, stays with them for an ever-increasing amount of time, his conspiracy-laden sermons and plans for a new world order start to make Jordyn question her purpose, her worth, and her sanity. Understanding the lure of conspiratorial teachings or a charismatic leader can be difficult, but Jackson shows how quickly rational people can be corrupted by sinister intentions. Readers will become both angry at and afraid for Jordyn and her friends, as dangerous currents flow underneath every escalating action of the quickly forming cult. While Jordyn’s love interest, Nick, may seem too knight-in-shining-armor for some, his underlying need to help Jordyn is explained well. The inevitable conflicts among Jordyn, Devonte’s followers, and even her own parents escalate the tension to a stomach-churning level. The revealing ending will lead readers to question what makes a person tick, what can make them break, and, ultimately, how to heal. Another visceral, propulsive thriller from an undisputed master of the genre.High-Demand Backstory: Reliably best-selling Jackson puts out hit after hit, and her many fans will be eager to get their hands on this one, too. | Kirkus Reviews (August 15, 2025) A first-year college student’s experience turns into a nightmare when her roommate’s brother moves in. Inspired by a real incident at Sarah Lawrence College, Jackson pens a gripping story about mental manipulation and predators disguised as positive influences. Against her parents’ wishes, Jordyn Monroe defers her Yale acceptance to attend Washington, D.C.’s Frazier University; she has a meaningful reason for wanting to choose an institution that’s among the most well-known Historically Black Colleges and Universities. After attending mostly white schools in the suburbs of Westport, Connecticut, Jordyn is excited to no longer be the only Black person in class. She and her three suitemates immediately bond and start thinking of themselves as sisters. When one girl’s older brother needs a place to stay after being released from prison—she says he was framed for credit card fraud—the others immediately welcome him. Devonte is smart, charming, and handsome, and he shares interesting stories about working in the hip-hop industry. He also offers the girls guidance and encourages them to expand their minds. Soon, however, he starts controlling their every move, and Jordyn can’t see a way out. Jackson’s portrayal of Devonte’s subtle brainwashing, leading up to a wholly unanticipated twist, is excellent, although the story wraps up a bit too quickly after the big reveal. The setting is intriguing and adds appeal, although readers may wish for more details about how HBCUs differ from predominantly white institutions. Engaging and frighteningly realistic; a suspense-filled winner. (Thriller. 15-adult) | |||||||||||||
19 | TW/KR | -Fic- | The subtle knife | Pullman, Philip | 2025 | Middle School | 5-8 | Grades 7-12 | Ages 12-up | Gr 5-Up | 9 | School Library Journal (October 1997) Gr 5 Up--A direct continuation of the epic fantasy begun in The Golden Compass (Knopf, 1996). Will Parry must find his father, who disappeared while exploring the far North. Mysterious strangers are hounding his mother for information about him. After Will accidentally kills one of them, he runs away, right through a window into another world. There he meets Lyra Silvertongue and her daemon, Pantalaimon, as well as travelers from yet another world. Lyra and her truth-telling alethiometer are soon enlisted in Will's quest, even as Lyra continues to seek the true nature of the mysterious Dust that is causing upheavals in her world. A desperate battle with inhabitants of the intermediate world brings Will the subtle knife, a magical totem of his own, which will protect Will and Lyra while bringing them closer to the end of this part of their quest. The action takes place in Will's world (which is also our own), as well as on Lyra's and the intermediate world. As in the first book, the stakes are high and the action is rapid and occasionally violent. The philosophical nature of the quest becomes clearer as various characters explain the possible relationships among Dust, the bridges between worlds, angels, supreme beings, and cosmic forces. This may be treading on dangerous ground for traditional religious thinkers--the essential nature of the supreme being is not necessarily positive--but high-fantasy enthusiasts will find much to follow and reflect on here. The Subtle Knife ends with even more of a cliff-hanger than The Golden Compass, and fans will eagerly await book three for the final resolution.--Susan L. Rogers, Chestnut Hill Academy, PA | Booklist starred (Vol. 93, No. 21 (July 1997)) Gr. 7-12. The epic adventure continues as the plot thickens in the second riveting book in the His Dark Materials trilogy, which began with the much heralded The Golden Compass, Booklist's Top of the List in youth fiction for 1996. This time, the story begins in our world with Will, a boy who escapes his pursuers by going through a window into another world, a world plagued by soul-sucking specters, where he encounters Lyra and her demon, Pantalaimon. The two youngsters join forces, moving between worlds searching for the mysterious phenomenon called Dust and for Will's long-lost father. By losing two fingers in a battle with a madman, Will becomes a warrior and the bearer of the subtle knife, a weapon that, like Lyra's truth-telling alethiometer, is a talisman as well, and, like Lyra, Will proves to be a pivotal figure in the looming battle for the universe. Often the middle book in a trilogy is the weakest; such is not the case here despite some incidences of awkward explanations inserted as asides or as part of the narrative. It's the character development as well as the relentless pace on several fronts--that of Will, Lyra, the witches, Will's father, and others--and a couple of gruesome incidents that make this a resoundingly successful sequel. The cliff-hanger of an ending will leave readers desperate for the next installment. | Kirkus Reviews starred (1997) The powerful second installment in the His Dark Materials fantasy trilogy, which began with The Golden Compass (1996), continues the chronicling of Lyra Silvertongue's quest to find the origins of Dust--the very stuff of the universe. The first chapter is vintage Pullman: gorgeous imagery, pulse-pounding action, the baiting of readers' affections as they meet Will, 12, who is trying to protect his emotionally fragile mother and to locate his lost father, an explorer who vanished years before. Instead, Will finds a window into another world, where Lyra and her daemon have also tumbled. That world holds the talisman of the subtle knife, which can cut through anything, even the space between worlds. It wounds Will, but he is bound to it by a destiny neither he nor Lyra (nor readers) yet understand. The witches of Lyra's world, the scientists of Will's, the passionately evil Mrs. Coulter (Lyra's mother), and Lyra's champion Lee Scoresby seek the source of the disorder in the worlds and shimmering spaces that connect them. Angels that bless and Specters that eat the wills of adults appear; tantalizing glimpses of the past and future abound; the whole is presented in a rush of sensuous detail that moves and entrances. Pullman has so intricately woven the textures of the two books that the outlines of the first are clearly recapitulated in the second, making it possible to read this one alone. But as it, too, ends in a tremendous cliffhanger, most readers will seek out the first volume while they eagerly await the third. | ||||||||||||||
20 | TW/KR | -Fic- | When we go missing | Henry, April | 2025 | Young Adult | YA | Grades 9-12 | Ages 14-up | Gr 9-Up | 3 | School Library Journal (May 1, 2025) Gr 9 Up-Henry's latest features the alternating perspectives of teens Willow and Dare, volunteers at a Portland animal shelter, and Ryan, a real estate agent who preys on teenage girls and young women. Willow, who has a tough time at home with an ill mother and distant stepfather, finds a camera memory card containing many photos of girls-some don't appear to know they're being photographed, while others seem frightened-and learns one of them is missing. The novel's pacing picks up halfway through, once Willow begins investigating; the first half is primarily centered around the day-to-day of the shelter, which is in danger of closing. Dare, meanwhile, is dealing with guilt over an accident that led to his being on probation-volunteering is a condition of his plea deal. Ryan's chapters offer a truly predatory view as his behavior escalates rapidly from illicit photography to luring with ruses with intent to assault and more. Both Willow and Dare are wealthy, in contrast to the unhoused population near the animal shelter. The teens are generally written as compassionate, but some descriptions are lacking, as when Dare refers to city bus passengers as "freaks and weirdos." Willow and Ryan are white; Dare has light brown skin and Italian and Japanese heritage. Sexual assault and murder of teenagers occur but are not described in graphic detail. VERDICT Recommended where Henry's books and blends of coming-of-age and mystery are popular.-Amanda Mastrull © Copyright 2025. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | Booklist (May 1, 2025 (Vol. 121, No. 17)) Grades 9-12. Seventeen-year-old Willow loves photography and animals, so her volunteer job as photographer for the animal shelter Finding Home is the perfect fit. Since the shelter is underfunded and understaffed, she also knows how to do every other job. While out walking one of the shelter dogs, she finds a camera card, and when she looks at it to see if she can figure out to whom it belongs, she is disturbed to see it is filled with pictures of young women, some of whom look frightened. The police aren’t very interested in it, so Willow, along with new volunteer Dare, decide to investigate. When she learns that a few of the girls are actually missing, she becomes convinced that a serial killer is on the loose. The police are still not interested, so she tries to get the killer’s attention on her own. The fast-paced plot is narrated from three perspectives: Willow’s, Dare’s, and the serial killer’s, which keeps the pages turning. Known for her deeply suspenseful novels, Henry has done it again. | Publishers Weekly (May 5, 2025) A teen races to uncover the origin of disturbing photographs in this unsettling thriller by Henry (Stay Dead). Portland, Ore., 17-year-old Willow O’Connor, a talented photographer, works at Finding Home, an animal rescue agency that specializes in hard-to-adopt animals. Along with taking pictures for the agency’s website, Willow completes most of the day-to-day duties with Finding Home’s elderly director, and trains new volunteer Dare, also 17, in everything from how to walk a dog to the rules and hierarchy of the local dog park. Then Willow finds a lost camera memory card on the sidewalk that’s filled with hundreds of posed and unposed pictures of pretty girls, some of whom appear terrified. After the police brush her off-"It’s not a crime to take people’s photos"-and she finds a picture of herself on the card, she enlists Dare to help investigate. Interspersed throughout steady third-person narration following Willow and Dare are chapters detailing real estate agent Ryan, who readers quickly learn is the owner of the lost memory card. The well-paced narrative effectively balances the central mystery with numerous subplots, including the adoption agency’s financial ups and downs and Willow and Dare’s budding romance. Comedic canines such as French bulldog Pierre provide laughs amid the tension. Most characters are white. Ages 14-up. Agent: Wendy Schmalz, Wendy Schmalz Agency. (May) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved. | ||||||||||||||
21 | TW/KR | -Fic- | When we ride : a novel | Ogle, Rex | 2025 | Young Adult | YA | Grades 9-12 | Ages 14-18 | Ages 14-up | Gr 9-Up | 4 | School Library Journal Xpress starred (March 7, 2025) Gr 9 Up-Diego "Benny" Benevides and his best friend, Lawson, have considered each other brothers ever since a bullying incident as elementary students. Now seniors in high school, both boys are struggling to help their single mothers by following vastly different paths. Benny's alcoholic mom tells him "Don't be like me. Be better." He is very studious, working for low wages at a diner, striving to go to college and make her proud. She takes the bus to work so she can give her son "Maria Carmen," her 1980 Cadillac DeVille, to help him meet those goals. Meanwhile, Lawson is not interested in school and makes his money selling weed. When he first asks Benny for rides, it seems more benign but selling spirals quickly into heavier drugs. Lawson cannot say no to his controlling and violent dealer, Trent. Benny's gripping introspective conflict between his own future and loyalty to Lawson is palpable. The novel in verse format is perfect for this character-driven, issue-oriented storyline mash-up, as readers delve deep into the battle playing out in the protagonist's mind. Ogle is exceptionally skillful at inviting readers into the emotional intensity of each decision Benny makes, with addiction and poverty laid raw using spare, carefully selected free verse. This pairs well with similarly themed verse novels where decision-making is paramount, like Jason Reynolds's Long Way Down and Ellen Hopkins's classic "Crank" series. VERDICT A gritty and nuanced glimpse into the underbelly of poverty, addiction, and gun violence.-Lisa Krok © Copyright 2025. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | Booklist (March 1, 2025 (Vol. 121, No. 13)) Grades 9-12. Seventeen-year-old Mexican American Diego and Lawson, his white best friend, are so close they call themselves “brothers from different mothers.” But in some ways they’re opposites. Diego is an excellent student, hardworking at his part-time job bussing tables, which he hates. Lawson is a terrible student, always on the brink of failing, but he has a job, too: selling weed. Because Diego has a car, a 1980 Cadillac De Ville, Lawson always needs a ride, sometimes to his drug supplier. Despite his better judgment, Diego complies—until Lawson partners with a dangerous new supplier and starts dealing hard drugs. The two have several bitter fallings-out over this, and when Diego is accepted to college, he pulls away from Lawson, perhaps for the last time. After a violent confrontation, Lawson drops out of school and Diego begins to find new friends, although missing Lawson and desperately worrying about him. Will they somehow reconcile? Ogle’s excellent, hard-edged novel in verse is a cautionary tale bound to invite thought and serious discussion. An important book. | Kirkus Reviews starred (January 1, 2025) A hardworking high school senior strives to keep his future bright while driving around his drug-dealing friend. Benny and Lawson, both raised by struggling single moms after their fathers left, are neighbors, best friends, and total opposites. Lawson, a white boy who’s charismatic and popular, goes to school mainly to deal drugs—not to study. Mexican American Benny, who’s quiet and studious, ranks near the top of their class. Lawson helps Benny come out of his shell at parties and stands up for him against bullies, and Benny is there when Lawson needs a ride. Benny’s mom holds down multiple cleaning jobs, works to stay sober, and encourages her son to go to college. By contrast, Lawson’s mom, who’s on welfare, depends on Lawson dealing marijuana to make rent. As graduation nears, the duo find themselves on dangerously different paths. Feeling trapped by his dependent mother and a new, violent drug boss, Lawson starts selling harder drugs. The risk of getting arrested or attacked because of Lawson’s drug dealing terrifies Benny, who threatens to stop driving Lawson around. Written in swift, emotive verse from Benny’s perspective, this work will leave readers empathizing with Benny’s struggle to prioritize his own future while remaining loyal to the childhood best friend he genuinely wants to help. But it’s the expertly paced plot twist at the end that makes Benny and Lawson’s story heartbreakingly unforgettable. Achingly, beautifully written. (Verse fiction. 14-18) | |||||||||||||
22 | TW/KR | 306.362 | Barracoon | Kendi, Ibram X | 2024 | Young Adult | YA | Grades 5-8 | Gr 3-7 | 8 | School Library Journal starred (February 1, 2024) Gr 3-7-"The most valuable things humans receive from the past generations are not money. They are stories." Collected by Zora Neale Hurston in 1931, the tale of the "Last Black Cargo" wasn't published for 87 years because Hurston refused to alter the dialect of the formerly enslaved Cudjo Lewis. The sole living Black man kidnapped from West Africa in 1859, Cudjo survived transport to the U.S. on the final slave ship, was forced to work, and was suddenly liberated in 1865 with no resources or means to return home. A significant introduction creates the context for Cudjo's story and Hurston's fieldwork as an anthropologist to gather it. Kendi honors the tale by preserving both Cudjo's and Hurston's voices. The visual art as well as the narrative are exceptional; astonishing black-and-white images created by fine artist Lee-Johnson demand attention and create pause. Cudjo's lifelong yearning for his home and the tragic lives of his six children bring readers to his final parting with Hurston. The interviews and artistry here create of this narrative an emotional experience. VERDICT This adaptation of Hurston's beautiful, important work is a true gift. Highly recommended for all libraries.-Janet S. Thompson © Copyright 2024. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | Horn Book Magazine (January/February, 2024) In 1860, more than fifty years after the United States outlawed the slave trade, the ship Clotilda journeyed back to Alabama from West Africa, carrying kidnapped people. Years later, Hurston, renowned anthropologist, writer, and folklorist, interviewed eighty-six-year-old Cudjo Lewis (born Oluale Kossula), who was purportedly the last survivor of the ship, at his home in Plateau, Alabama. Kendi (adapter of Hurston's Magnolia Flower, rev. 11/22, and The Making of Butterflies, rev. 5/23) has adapted the seminal work, first published in 2018, for young readers. He opens by providing thoroughly drawn context, characterizing the transatlantic human trade as the "most dramatic chapter in the story of human existence" and describing the horrific conditions under which enslaved people existed. In African American Vernacular English, or Ebonics ("I want tell-ee somebody who I is...I want you everywhere you go to tell everybody what Cudjo say"), the man shared memories of his family and community in his home village, the harrowing Middle Passage, his five-and-a-half years of enslavement, and his freedom following the Civil War during which he married, had children, and cofounded AfricaTown (later renamed Plateau). Throughout the story, his loneliness and longing to return to his native home are palpable, supplying readers with an intimate perspective on his strength to survive. Kendi illuminates these memories in a captivating narrative that exudes empathy and authenticity. Pencil and black ink drawings (unseen) accompany the text. Powerful, profound, and necessary. Pauletta Brown Bracy January/February 2024 p.114 | Booklist starred (December 1, 2023 (Vol. 120, No. 7)) Grades 5-8. National Book Award–winning author Kendi adapts legendary author Hurston’s posthumous Barracoon for young readers. The original manuscript, unpublished until 2018, relates Hurston's lengthy interviews with Cudjo Lewis, the last known surviving person transported from Africa to the U.S. via the Middle Passage. Lewis tells his moving story in his own voice, which employs African American Vernacular English (often called Ebonics), though Kendi has changed some spellings to make the language more accessible to young readers. A lengthy introduction provides necessary context to Cudjo’s story, which begins in Africa in 1859 when he, then 19, was taken captive and transported to Dahomey, where he was briefly incarcerated in the barracoons, the jails where traders kept enslaved people, before he was sold and transported to America on a miserable voyage that lasted 70 days. The story recounts his subsequent six years of slavery before he became free in 1865 and participated in the building of Africatown, which is now a historic Black community in Alabama. Cudjo's story is infrequently a happy one—his six children predeceased him and his wife then left him—and is sometimes recounted through tears. It is, nevertheless, an important historic document that provides an intimate look at slavery in America. The book, illustrated in vivid black-and-white drawings, belongs in every library. | |||||||||||||||
23 | TW/KR | 326 | Arm in arm : the Grimke sisters' fight for abolition and women's rights | Carpenter, Angelica Shirley | 2025 | Young Adult | YA | Ages 12-18 | Gr 9-Up | 2 | School Library Journal (August 1, 2025) Gr 9 Up-Sarah (1792-1873) and Angelina (1805-1879) were two of over a dozen children born to the Grimkés, a wealthy and influential South Carolina family that enslaved hundreds of people. These daughters grew to be radical dissidents who rejected their family's and society's expectations for young women at the time. Although raised in the Presbyterian faith, early in their lives they converted to Quakerism, adopting their values of abolitionism and equal rights for women. At first, the sisters advocated locally but soon moved to Philadelphia and then the national stage. They initially spoke only to women's groups, but their audience grew to include a mix of genders, unheard of at the time. The pair were the first women to speak at this level for abolition and the first to tie women's rights to the movement. They drew frequent criticism for their controversial actions, writings, and speeches, but this only fueled their determination to work for the rights of the enslaved and women, making them all the more famous and in demand. They, along with Angelina's husband Theodore Weld, opened a school and communal living farm, but ultimately their legacy lies with the fight for abolition and women's rights, having great influence in both movements. Peppered with black and white images, Carpenter's understated, straightforward writing is informative and engaging and keeps the pages turning. Her detailed research is documented with extensive source notes. A family tree, glossary, bibliography, and index are included. VERDICT Covering the entirety of the Grimké sisters' lives, this is a thought-provoking biography of two fierce yet humble abolitionists who deserve more attention than history has given them. Recommended for all libraries.-Karen T. Bilton © Copyright 2025. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | Kirkus Reviews (August 15, 2025) This biography explores the evolution and impact of the Grimké sisters, Sarah (1792-1873) and Angelina (1805-1879), who grew up in a family of enslavers and became prominent abolitionists. As children in Charleston, South Carolina, raised by a mother who parented with “a rod of fear,” the sisters were distressed by how their family members abused enslaved people. Over time, they questioned the morality of holding other people in bondage. Carpenter portrays the deeply entrenched prejudices of the time as a counterpoint to Sarah’s and Angelina’s growing awareness. Although they struggled against internalized messages about women’s inferiority, they found the courage to publish and speak, despite meeting with derisive, misogynistic insults in the press. The sisters stood firm, found fellow activists and supporters, and expanded their fight to include women’s rights. Again and again, the Grimkés broke with social norms, participating in a radicalism that was part of a seismic cultural shift in the lead-up to the Civil War. This relatively short book thoughtfully presents a period of upheaval and change and traces the sisters’ long-lasting impact as well as recent, more critical perceptions of their motivations and behavior that bring welcome nuance to their story. Archival images help readers digest historical details, and excerpts from primary sources capture the sisters’ growth. The author carefully lays a trail of details, weaving them together throughout her account. Informative and insightful. (author’s note, family tree, glossary, source notes, bibliography, further reading and viewing, index) (Nonfiction. 12-18) | ||||||||||||||||
24 | TW/KR | 523.01 | A quantum life : my unlikely journey from the street to the stars | Oluseyi, Hakeem M | 2024 | Young Adult | YA | Grades 8-11 | Ages 13-18 | Gr 10-Up | 3 | School Library Journal (September 1, 2023) Gr 10 Up-Before he became Dr. Hakeem Oluseyi, a NASA astrophysicist, he was just James Plummer, Jr., whose life wasn't a straight line to success. Instead, instability reigned with a single mother and constant moving. He had a higher-than-average IQ and a need for scientific knowledge, but instead found trouble. Dubbed the gangsta physicist, Oluseyi provides an introspective look at his ascension to a credentialed scientist by combating addiction and discrimination with grit. For this young adult adaptation, Oluseyi includes Horwitz to help shift the narrative. Still focused on his rocky rise into the world of doctoral work and discovery in STEM, the shorter chapters keep a steady pace focused on his relationships; first with his sister who did most of the caretaking, then with the father he would see during the summers. Then there were his romantic relationships, drug affiliations, and ultimately his children and his mentor. Readers get attached to Oluseyi who bares all, provides inspiration, and celebrates science. Reaching through the pages to tell his story without editing the obstacles makes it tangible. The honesty is also what connects it to similar memoirs like Notes from a Young Black Chef by Kwame Onwuachi and Becoming by Michelle Obama. VERDICT By celebrating a Black academic in the STEM field, this scientist's memoir envisions a place for anyone who has a dream that the possibility is there to achieve it. Purchase it for teen nonfiction collections everywhere.-Alicia Abdul © Copyright 2023. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | Booklist starred (June 1, 2023 (Vol. 119, No. 19)) Grades 8-11. This absorbing, suspenseful memoir depicts the author’s journey of transformation from James Plummer Jr., neglected child of a drug dealer, to Hakeem Oluseyi, celebrated Black astrophysicist. As a child, Li’l Jame was moved constantly between poor neighborhoods in New Orleans, L.A., and Houston and his family’s bootlegging, pot-farming operation in backwoods Mississippi. Bullied from an early age, Plummer focused on his passions: chess and bridge, comic books and mythology, and, later, marching band and computer programming. After reading the World Book entry for Einstein at age 10, he became instantly hooked on physics. His daddy was a bigger-than-life figure who loved his son—and was also the dealer who introduced him to crack cocaine. Each hard-won achievement (attending Tougaloo College and Stanford University, getting married and becoming a father, winning a place on the research team of his renowned mentor, Black physicist Art Walker) was followed by a return to drugs and a double life. Finally, he entered rehab. In changing his name to Hakeem Oluseyi just before his PhD thesis defense, he claimed his identity and self-acceptance. Oluseyi’s unflinching honesty and love of science, and the ever-present threat of a tragic end, will keep readers riveted. Each short chapter tells a full story in lively prose, making this account ideal for its intended audience. | Kirkus Reviews (June 1, 2023) Adapted for young adults, this edition of a well-received memoir from 2021 chronicles the personal and educational paths of a Black astrophysicist. By the fourth grade, Oluseyi knew he was different from his peers. The future scholar and scientist read quickly through textbooks unprompted and would “feel restless” waiting for everyone else to catch up. Though from New Orleans, he moved around quite often as a child. During a year and a half of instability, he rotated among nine homes and five schools. But it was in Mississippi, where Oluseyi settled, that he became, by high school, a “committed man of science.” This adaptation keeps the story intact, slightly condensing chapters to highlight material of greatest relevance to the book’s intended audience. The underlying theme of discipline, something Oluseyi learned about while participating in his high school marching band, permeates the second half of the book. Readers learn about his struggles at Tougaloo, a historically Black college near Jackson, with selling and using drugs and his later recovery in rehab. Later, at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Physics, his mentor, the department’s only professor of color, affirms his experiences and pursuits. Readers will delight in the cinematic storytelling and clear, fearless writing, and many will identify with Oluseyi’s unwavering dedication to his educational goals despite setbacks and detours, while others may find inspiration for their own personal and academic journeys. Unflinchingly honest; a memoir in which young readers can find useful lessons. (photo credits) (Nonfiction. 13-18) | ||||||||||||||
25 | TW/KR | 572 | Breakthrough : Katalin Kariko and the mRNA vaccine | McPherson, Stephanie Sammartino | 2024 | Young Adult | YA | Grades 6-10 | Ages 12-18 | Gr 7-Up | 3 | School Library Journal (December 1, 2023) Gr 7 Up-Two of the most common COVID-19 vaccines used in the United States, from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, use synthetic mRNA to produce an immune response to the virus. But what is synthetic mRNA, and who developed it? This work follows Katalin Karikó's life and trajectory as a scientist. It was her unstinting belief in the importance of synthetic mRNA in disease prevention and her dedicated scientific work with research partner Drew Weissman that led to the development of an mRNA vaccine. Traditional vaccines use a live virus (weakened) or a dead virus to confer immunity. An mRNA vaccine uses synthetic mRNA to deliver instructions to cells to make a protein that instigates an immune response. Readers learn about Karikó's childhood in rural Hungary, and her decision to leave and emigrate to the United States with her husband and young daughter to pursue her scientific studies. Women working in science face many challenges, and Karikó was no exception-especially since not many valued her area of research. But with the support of her family and a few colleagues who uplifted her work, notably Weissman, she persevered with her research over several decades. The book includes background information on gene therapy, vaccine development, coronaviruses, and other tangentially relevant scientific information. Complex scientific information is conveyed clearly, so that important ideas can be understood. Includes extensive source notes; a selected bibliography; and a list of books, videos, and websites for further information. VERDICT This biography is timely as Karikó (along with Weissman) recently won the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Accessible writing and thorough research make this a great science resource for middle and high school students. Recommended.-Ragan O'Malley © Copyright 2023. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | Booklist (December 1, 2023 (Online)) Grades 6-10. Katalin Karikó, the subject of this inspiring women-in-STEM biography, won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in October 2023 (just before this book's release). The committee recognized Karikó's decades of research into the genetic messenger mRNA, a little-studied area that led directly to the creation of the COVID-19 vaccine. This engaging offering tells of Karikó's childhood in Soviet-controlled Hungary and her hard work to get into a top university, and how, when her program lost funding, Karikó, her husband, and their two-year-old daughter immigrated to the U.S. Her story includes references to numerous low-level, low-paying jobs, her perseverance in the face of endless disappointments, her eventual discovery of like-minded scientists, and the eventual validation of her research. The narrative weaves in accessible explanations (including diagrams) of the science behind mRNA, numerous sidebars, time lines, a glossary, and chapter notes, and kids will appreciate details that make Karikó relatable (growing cantaloupes as a child; hiding money in her daughter's teddy bear). This is a timely tribute to a dedicated visionary and modern-day hero who never gave up. | Kirkus Reviews (October 1, 2023) The story of Katalin Karikó—a scientist key to the development of the mRNA vaccine for Covid-19—is one of perseverance and dedication. Born in Hungary in 1955, Kati Karikó has never been a stranger to stacked odds. From her childhood as the daughter of a political dissenter, her young adulthood battling for access to the best science education Hungary offered, and her career working in the trenches of the relentlessly hierarchical system of academic science, her path to success proved a winding one. With this timely book, McPherson sheds light as much on the quirks and pitfalls of academic and industrial science as on the scientific discoveries that paved the way for the mRNA vaccine. Contextualizing Karikó’s struggles within her identities as a woman and an immigrant to America, the author highlights the biases and the rigid definitions of success that continue to characterize many hallowed institutions. The descriptions of scientific concepts are succinct and clear, providing enough detail that readers will be left informed but not overwhelmed with minutiae. Frequent inserts offer historical context and colorful detail. The controversies and misinformation surrounding the development of vaccines are touched upon but not explored deeply. The work shines most when elucidating the long path to scientific discovery, including the many failed experiments and minor discoveries that necessarily precede breakthroughs. A stimulating and accessible foray into recent scientific history. (timelines, glossary, source notes, bibliography, further information, index, photo credits) (Nonfiction. 12-18) | ||||||||||||||
26 | TW/KR | 616.99 | Everything is tuberculosis : the history and persistence of our deadliest infection | Green, John | 2025 | Young Adult | YA | 5 | School Library Journal starred (April 1, 2025) An enlightening exploration of the history and present-day reality of tuberculosis around the world. This narrative nonfiction title follows the journey of one TB patient, Henry, and his life and treatment in Sierra Leone while simultaneously shedding light on the battle against tuberculosis in impoverished countries. While tuberculosis is considered history to many, Green shares the alarming fact that due to many factors beyond the control of sufferers, over a million people die each year because they don't have access to the best possible treatments and diagnostic testing. Green skillfully sparks readers' curiosity within the first pages by discussing the number of deaths TB has caused in recent years and explains, "We know how to live in a world without tuberculosis. But we choose not to live in that world." Readers will be shocked to hear the impact TB still has around the world when in places like the U.S., most people think tuberculosis is a part of the past. Henry's story is hopeful and heartbreaking; readers will be rooting for him and his family the whole way through. The author includes much about his relationship with Henry, but also of his own life experiences with medications, OCD, and his treatment of orbital cellulitis which contributes helpful comparisons to the narrative. While medical nonfiction titles can be difficult for the average reader, Green explains ideas and terminology simply to ensure comprehension for readers. VERDICT This is a thought-provoking work and highly recommended for high school collections.-Lisa Buffi © Copyright 2025. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | Booklist starred (February 1, 2025 (Vol. 121, No. 11)) Celebrated YA novelist Green's second nonfiction title for adults, following The Anthropocene Reviewed (2021), is a passionate book about tuberculosis, which is “listed in Guinness World Records as the oldest contagious disease.” In the last 200 years, over a billion people have died from it; between one-fourth and one-third of all living humans have been infected with it. These staggering statistics and more haunt Green's excellent book, which began with a trip to Sierra Leone in 2019 and a visit to Lakka, a tuberculosis hospital where Green met Henry Reider, a 17-year-old infected with TB. Henry becomes for readers the face of TB as Green periodically charts his condition in these pages. When Green returned home from Sierra Leone, he became obsessed with TB: “I simply could not shut up about the disease.” This important book is evidence of that. Green writes expertly of the illness’s history, causes (malnutrition, poverty, bad sanitation, etc.), and cure—and of Henry’s miraculous recovery. Insightful and extremely well and clearly written, Everything Is Tuberculosis makes what might be inaccessible accessible. In the end, Green says that his book exists only because he met Henry, and readers will be so grateful he did.HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Every book from John Green is a big deal, and the important topic and global implications of this one ensure it will make major waves. Recommended for teens (YA) Green already dominates YA fiction, and the focus on 17-year-old Henry’s story will appeal to his teen fanbase, as well as those interested in health history and stories of resilience. | Publishers Weekly (January 27, 2025) YA author Green (The Anthropocene Reviewed) takes another turn toward nonfiction in this congenial history of the world’s "oldest contagious disease." Green writes that he became "obsessed" with tuberculosis after a chance meeting at a Sierra Leone hospital with a charming young patient, Henry Reider, who was sick with drug-resistant TB. Green weaves Henry’s moving story of illness and recovery together with a social history of the disease, explaining that tuberculosis once killed rich and poor indiscriminately, but after the late-19th-century advent of germ theory, it became a "disease of the poor and marginalized." Green contends that, today, injustice-lack of access to adequate food, housing, and healthcare-is the "root cause" of all tuberculosis, and urges that since "we are the cause... we must also be the cure." Adhering to form, Green peppers his account with quirky-fun facts (the hatmaker who designed the Stetson, famously worn by cowboys, had moved to the West in search of a dry-air cure for his consumption) and YA-style philosophizing ("The world we share is a product of all the worlds we used to share"; "We live in between what we choose and what is chosen for us"). He also offers personal reflections on how his journey into tuberculosis philanthropy was fueled by his OCD and how the disease reminded him of his YouTuber brother Hank Green’s run-in with cancer. Green’s fans will be pleased by this window into his latest obsession. (Mar.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved. | |||||||||||||||||
27 | TW/KR | 629.45 | Earthrise : the story of a photograph that changed the way we see our planet | Marcus, Leonard S | 2025 | Middle School | 5-8 | Grades 7-9 | Ages 11-14 | Ages 10-14 | Gr 6-Up | 5 | School Library Journal (March 1, 2025) Gr 6 Up-A deep dive into the history of space exploration and travel leading up to the Apollo 8 mission to orbit the moon. The book's title comes from the iconic photo of the Earth taken on that voyage in 1968. This text-heavy tome is loaded with historical facts and stories from the origins of the space race to the training, planning, and mistakes associated with space missions. The text flows well and is easy to read, though due to the density of information, only the most devoted space enthusiasts will endeavor to read the book in its entirety. Black-and-white photos are used throughout depicting important people and events in space exploration. Young readers will enjoy seeing the rudimentary space suits that now resemble modern children's costumes. Though the book indicates its primary focus is the Earthrise photo, it takes 80 pages to get to the beginning of the Apollo 8 mission where the photo was taken. The latter half touches on the effects of the photos of Earth taken from space, as well as the trajectory of space travel from Apollo 8 to the present. VERDICT This book presents compelling information about the history of space travel and the Earthrise image but may struggle to compete with highly colorful, image-rich space books.-Jessica Trafton © Copyright 2025. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | Horn Book Magazine (May/June, 2025) Children's literature scholar Marcus provides valuable insight into early NASA history with this account of the famous titular photograph, taken from lunar orbit by Bill Anders, of the Apollo 8 mission in 1968. After introducing Earthrise as "an image that changed the world," inspiring Earth Day and the environmental movement, Marcus looks back to the beginning of the space race with the Soviet launch of Sputnik and traces NASA's efforts to catch up and pull ahead before focusing on Apollo 8 and its crew. Readers meet "perfectionist" commander Frank Borman, "easygoing" navigator Jim Lovell, and "doggedly task-oriented" Anders, who was the official photographer as well as systems engineer. Contextualizing the voyage within the turbulence of the year 1968 and rumors of an upcoming Soviet moonshot, Marcus describes how Apollo 8's mission was hastily reoriented just four months before liftoff, amping up the tension. Quotes from transcripts enable Marcus to put readers in the capsule with Borman, Lovell, and Anders; Borman's spontaneous "Oh, my God" at the astronauts' first sight of Earth beyond the moon's horizon underscores the effect of the moment. It also helps twenty-first-century young people understand how the novelty of that vision made Earthrise the powerful statement it became, which Marcus discusses in the final chapters. Carefully captioned photographs and occasional dives into related topics enhance the presentation. Back matter includes a thorough bibliography and source notes. Vicky Smith May/June 2025 p.112 | Booklist starred (January 1, 2025 (Vol. 121, No. 9)) Grades 7-9. Earthrise, a color photograph taken on December 24, 1968, is one of the most powerful, memorable photos in human history. The photographer, Bill Anders, was one of three astronauts circling the moon during NASA’s Apollo 8 mission. Anders’ background was in nuclear engineering rather than the arts, but the three Apollo 8 crew members were the first people ever to see Earth while circling the moon, and the sight of the planet moved them. Today the photo continues to move people with its view of Earth rising above the moon’s horizon. Many credit the photo with inspiring the environmental movement and Earth Day. Marcus leads readers through the history of space exploration, beginning with the Soviet Union’s launch of Sputnik satellites, America’s slow response, President Kennedy’s determined speech, and NASA’s follow-though. America’s space program began during a period of political controversy and social unrest, fear, and violence. Marcus weaves those themes into a very readable history of the era, creating a useful backdrop for twenty-first-century readers intrigued by Earthrise and America’s space program through the Apollo 8 mission. A highly respected historian, writer, and speaker on children’s-literature-related topics, Marcus, who grew up in the era discussed and understands its complex history, presents the Earthrise story with clarity and insight. | |||||||||||||
28 | TW/KR | 647.95 | Food-related stories | Pocket Change Collective | Melian, Gaby | 2021 | Young Adult | YA | Grades 7-12 | Ages 12-18 | Gr 7-10 | 3 | School Library Journal (January 1, 2022) Gr 7-10-In this short but sincere memoir, chef Melian presents a reflective look at her past by connecting her life experiences to cooking and food. With a clear, warm voice, Melian leads readers through moments of her growth in the culinary industry, from her childhood baking experiments in her abuela's backyard in Buenos Aires to her work as a street vendor to her pursuit to educate others about cooking. Melian's writing clearly reveals her joys and struggles as her passion for the culinary arts, gratitude for family, and strength to pursue her dreams comes to the fore in her book. With fluid, descriptive phrases interspersed throughout, Melian portrays food as an opportunity for shared moments with others. She takes time at the close of each section to explain why cooking has long been, to her, a valuable element sewn into the fabric of life, culture, and memories. Even as the memoir closes on an allegorical note, Melian openly conveys her meaningful discoveries about her personal truth, so the stories easily are shaped into lessons about perseverance to pursue a dream, dedication to one's craft, and the value of creating these "food-related" moments. VERDICT Melian's short but expressive memoir about her life experiences and working with food will inspire readers to savor all of the ingredients of happiness in life.-Rachel Mulligan © Copyright 2022. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | Booklist (October 15, 2021 (Vol. 118, No. 4)) Grades 7-12. Melian’s memoir of how she became a chef and food activist joins other titles in the Pocket Change Collective series, such as Beyond the Gender Binary (2020) and Skate for Your Life (2021), and as with those, its short, lively chapters and bright cover, featuring Melian’s portrait, will appeal to teen readers. Appropriately for these food stories, the cover is a mustard yellow, a nod to the Argentine immigrant’s love of the condiment, which she fondly remembers brightening her first taste of New York City street-food pretzels. Melian—who, never intending to pursue a career in food, eventually became a street vendor and then a Food Revolution Ambassador and test-kitchen manager for Bon Appétit—is a positive advocate for teens who may want to be chefs themselves, as well as those who simply love food. She tells of her Buenos Aires childhood, her plans to be a journalist, and her time in New York as her plans evolved. “I wish someone had told me that changing your mind is fine,” she advises. A positive addition to all young-adult collections. | Kirkus Reviews (October 1, 2021) Melian, a chef, activist, and former Test Kitchen Manager at Bon Appétit, begins this brief memoir by recounting clearing out the freezer and finding and eating one last helping of her mother’s signature fish dish following her death. Sharing this precious meal with her brother connected them emotionally and physically with their mother one last time. In other vignettes, she ties her love of food to her happy childhood in Argentina; memories of cooking with her cousins at her abuela’s house and, in particular, her abuela’s ravioles de seso; the revelation of a sidewalk vendor’s hot pretzel that she ate following her arrival in New York City to explore a new path after studying journalism in Buenos Aires; and the physical and mental strength she developed after going into business to sell her empanadas. Melian briefly alludes to her work bringing free food education to inner-city public schools, but the stories she shares here are overall more personal and primal—food as sustenance, not as a vehicle for social justice—which feels like a missed opportunity. She also references in passing the difficulties of being a woman in a male-dominated industry where being Latina and speaking English with an accent affected how she was treated. Each of the individual anecdotes stands alone, without a narrative arc connecting them, but the descriptions of food are rich in sensory detail. Clearly written, with heart and integrity, but lacking in substance: tasty but not very filling. (Memoir. 12-18) | |||||||||||||
29 | TW/KR | 730 | Ruth Asawa : an artist takes shape | Nakahira, Sam | 2024 | Young Adult | YA | Grades 7-12 | Ages 13-18 | Ages 13-up | Gr 7-Up | 5 | School Library Journal (March 1, 2024) Gr 7 Up-A graphic biography that follows the life of Ruth Asawa (1926-2013), a Japanese American artist renowned for her innovative wire sculptures. Asawa grew up on a farm with her family in Southern California. She was a teen when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, and her family was forced to abandon their farm. Her father was incarcerated, and she and the rest of her family were sent to a concentration camp in Arkansas. It was there, while imprisoned, that Asawa cultivated her dreams of becoming an artist. Nakahira chronicles Asawa's life with great detail, continuing with Asawa graduating high school in the camp and obtaining a scholarship to attend Milwaukee State Teacher College to become an art teacher, where she was unable to finish her degree due to anti-Japanese discrimination. Encouraged by her friends, Asawa entered the experimental Black Mountain College in North Carolina to study art. The book also includes coverage of other historical figures, like Asawa's great instructors Bauhaus-trained artists Anni and Josef Albers, inventor R. Buckminister Fuller, and choreographer Merce Cunningham, all who lent themselves to the transformation of her art making. VERDICT A first purchase; this detailed visual biography illustrates the story of an important Japanese American artist emerging from one of the most atrocious violations of American civil rights in the 20th century-the incarceration of Japanese Americans.-Anna Ching-Yu Wong © Copyright 2024. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | Horn Book Magazine (May/June, 2024) This graphic-format biography of Japanese American artist Asawa (1926�2013) begins on December 7, 1941, as teenage Ruth and her farming family hear that Japan has attacked Pearl Harbor. Soon the FBI arrests her father ("They think he's dangerous? He can't even kill a chicken for dinner"), and the rest of the family are sent to Santa Anita Racetrack, where they must sleep in horse stables. But luckily for Ruth, interned Disney animators are teaching drawing classes. "Everything was gray until I met the cartoonists...Truly, art saved me." After the family is sent to the Rohwer Relocation Center in Arkansas, Ruth receives a college scholarship. She studies art education in Milwaukee -- then isn't allowed to graduate; the war has ended, but prejudice hasn't. At the experimental Black Mountain College in North Carolina, Ruth thrives and begins working on the wire sculptures for which she becomes so well known. A theme throughout is Ruth's sheer determination -- to not become a farmer; to study art; to marry the white man she loved despite their families' disapproval, to have children ("I want six") and still be an artist. Gratifyingly, the book closes with her doing just that. Nakahira's black-and-white illustrations, clear and direct, allow viewers to see both the helplessness and courage of those who were forcibly incarcerated. The art is also ideal for illuminating the lines, shapes, and empty spaces of Asawa's famous wire sculptures. Appended are further biographical information, a reading list, and photos of the artist and her work. Jennifer M. Brabander May/June 2024 p.159 | Booklist (March 15, 2024 (Vol. 120, No. 14)) Grades 7-12. Despite harrowing life challenges, inventive artist Ruth Asawa never gave up on her passion for making art. Soon after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the teenager and her Japanese American family were sent to an incarceration camp; despite its harsh conditions, Ruth found joyful self-expression in art classes. Later, when postwar racism denied her hopes of becoming a teacher, Ruth patiently persisted, overcoming obstacles to study at the innovative Black Mountain College. Inspired there by Bauhaus artist Josef Albers, Ruth discovered the intricate wonders she could conjure with a mere coil of wire. With spare text and monochromatic washes over simple linework, comics creator Nakahira expressively outlines the arduous, yet ever-hopeful path this young dreamer pursued to become a stunningly innovative interpreter of shapes and spaces. Richly informative back matter expands on Ruth’s life and work with photographs of the artist and her intriguing art. A sensitive and compelling portrait of one of the most influential artists of the twentieth century, certain to inspire readers to explore the creative possibilities coiled within the simplest materials. | |||||||||||||
30 | TW/KR | 741.5 (Graphic Novel) | Earthsea. Book one,A wizard of Earthsea : a graphic novel | Fordham, Fred | 2025 | Young Adult | YA | Grades 7-12 | Ages 12-16 | Gr 8-Up | 3 | School Library Journal (February 1, 2025) Gr 8 Up-The world of Earthsea has been widely known since Le Guin's original publication in 1968 and paved the way for non-Tolkienian fantasy novels for decades. Fordham's artistic vision will bring in a new generation of fans with vivid colors, dialogue-driven pages, and fast pacing. The watercolor art style gives the world a dreamlike quality, which serves to let the reader fill in some parts with their own imagination, as Le Guin originally intended in the novel. The art is rich and the bits of exposition and descriptions that Fordham has turned into textless panels let the settings sing. Justly, this adaptation portrays Ged as his proper age and with copper skin to match Le Guin's character description from the novels, which have been obscured in other illustrative interpretations and film adaptations. The quick, light pace will keep readers turning pages, though no number of beautiful illustrations can replace Le Guin's stunning prose. It is especially absent in the climactic scene, which ends up feeling rushed in this version. However, this is an otherwise faithful adaptation, and the interpretation of the characters, towns, and magic make this definitely worth adding to any graphic novel collection. VERDICT Fantasy lovers and art lovers alike will make this graphic version of the classic novel a highly sought-after addition to library shelves, though it should be in addition to the original, not in place of it.-Lauren Sullivan © Copyright 2025. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | Booklist (March 1, 2025 (Vol. 121, No. 13)) Grades 7-12. Here author-artist Fordham admirably tackles the first graphic adaptation of Le Guin's beloved 1968 opener to the Earthsea Cycle. The script is true to the source, presenting a measured, poetic telling of the wizard Ged's early, somewhat episodic journeys, from the emergence of his powers, to his tutelage and ascent to the level of sorcerer, and through the long, harrowing journey in pursuit of the dark shadow unleashed by Ged's heedless young ambition. Rather than modernizing the old novel for contemporary audiences, Fordham maintains the classic tone, letting the artwork drive the story while emphasizing the awesome power of silence and stillness as Ged sails through a wide archipelago. A watercolor style proves the perfect choice for the many sweeping seascapes that ground the adventure, steeping the pages in a visual magic that is able to blur between the light and dark that churn at the story's core. A worthy adaptation of an enduring classic that manages to bring forth all the quiet power of the whispered secret of someone's true name. | Kirkus Reviews starred (January 15, 2025) An ambitious young wizard embarks on a perilous quest to correct a mistake made from hubris in this graphic adaptation of Le Guin’s well-loved 1968 classic. Duny is nearly 13 when he’s visited by Ogion the Silent, a mage who gives him his true name, Ged, a coming-of-age milestone. As Ogion’s apprentice, Ged begins his long journey of understanding the consequences of magic and the importance of maintaining the world’s balance. Ged studies wizardry at the School of Roke, where he performs a spell summoning the dead and calls up an evil shadow force that starts following him. Ged must defeat it before it can take over his body and use him to enact dark magic. Fordham’s watercolor-style art brings the story’s world to life, beautifully portraying seaside villages, starlit nights, the stone-walled school, and more. Wordless spreads seamlessly propel the plot, as when Ged battles fierce flying dragons off the coast of Pendor. While the story moves quickly, visual clues such as changing seasons signal Ged’s growth and the passage of time. The concise narration and dialogue enhance the story’s drama. A preface by Theo Downes-Le Guin, the author’s son, discusses the intentionality and mindfulness behind the illustrations, as for example, in the portrayal of Ged as “a young copper-skinned man” rather than the “white, often middle-aged man” shown in other versions, which Le Guin felt betrayed her original vision. A beloved cornerstone of the genre brought vividly to life through striking illustrations. (map) (Graphic fantasy. 12-16) | ||||||||||||||
31 | TW/KR | 741.5 (Graphic Novel) | Hunger's bite | Robin, Taylor | 2025 | Young Adult | YA | Grades 8-12 | Ages 14-18 | Ages 13-17 | Gr 7-Up | 4 | School Library Journal starred (March 1, 2025) Gr 7 Up-Life on the Lark is flipped upside down for the passengers and crew when the predatory American vampire Mr. Honeycutt buys the ship and takes over operations. Emery, the captain's son, and his best friend Neeta, a previously welcomed stowaway, notice how the ship's employees, Neeta's brother included, are pushed past the brink of collapse under this new leadership. Desperate for answers, the crew partners with a private investigator to unravel Honeycutt's sinister plans. Together, they must work to save the crew and working class passengers from being cast into the fiery maw of the boiler to satisfy Honeycutt's insatiable greed. Robin offers an exciting adventure and explores themes like the impact of greed and power. Characters are well-developed and diverse perspectives are considered in this menacing tale of hunger for more. The horror elements within the illustrations are chilling and add to the draw of this text. The cartoon art style coupled with the colors to enhance the tone and mood of each spread creates an immersive, nightmarish experience for readers. The sinister, contrasting art style used for characters during a personality shift is horrifically magnificent. VERDICT This harrowing story of survival and justice is a feast for horror enthusiasts and lays the groundwork for a sequel.-Angie Jameson © Copyright 2025. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | Booklist starred (February 1, 2025 (Vol. 121, No. 11)) Grades 8-12. Neeta has dropped a serious bombshell on best friend Emery as they guess the titles of first-class passengers—she yearns to travel and is set to make her dreams come true. Emery would much rather they stay together on the SS Lark, the ocean liner that has been their home for a number of years. Emery may just get his wish when the off-putting, sharp-toothed Mr. Honeycutt purchases the SS Lark and takes over management. Luckily, vampire and paranormal investigator Wick Farley is on the case, growing wearier and more involved (a big no-no according to his higher-ups) as crew members, including Neeta’s older brother, start collapsing from exhaustion. Neeta and Wick form a hesitant alliance, much to Emery’s chagrin, leaving Emery to be pulled into the oppressive and haunting grasp of Mr. Honeycutt. Robin uses a dazzling palette of jewel tones and startling shifts into Picasso-like cubism to convey the perspectives of those falling under Mr. Honeycutt’s influence, all of which will draw readers in and creep them out. The plot is propulsive without cutting substance— an excellent narrative on the struggles of transcending social classes while loved ones struggle is handled with care and integrity. Robin’s debut shines with its excellent color choices, robust onomatopoeia, and perfect balance of creepy and touching. And for the sea-weary, never fear, Robin’s next work (a sequel?) will be set on a train. | Kirkus Reviews (December 15, 2024) In the early 20th century, a young woman yearns for greater mysteries and adventures than she can find aboard ship, but when a new owner takes over, there may be more of both than she’s ready for. Neeta Pandey, who’s of Indian descent, grew up on the Lark as the ward of the British captain and in the company of his son, her best friend Emery Botwright. Neeta’s late mother was Emery’s ayah, so Capt. Botwright favored her, paying her school tuition and offering her a room on the ship during holidays; her brother, Aamir, meanwhile, works in the galley. Tired of the crossing between Liverpool and New York, she dreams of going on a grand tour of Europe after she graduates. But Emery is ready to follow in his father’s footsteps—and he wants Neeta with him. When Mr. Honeycutt, the crass, sexist new owner from America, arrives, the friends are driven further apart. The wealthy first-class passengers seem unaffected, but Neeta can see that the staff and crew are suffering under Honeycutt’s harsh ways. Neeta turns to mysterious passenger Warwick Farley, who shares her concerns, and together they try to figure out the terrible things happening aboard the Lark. This satisfying graphic novel, which is lightly infused with horror elements, has dynamic illustrations that feature an effective use of color to evoke mood. The themes of class and power imbalances are masterfully handled and timely. Most characters present white. Atmospheric and compelling. (playlists) (Graphic supernatural. 14-18) | |||||||||||||
32 | TW/KR | 741.5 (Graphic Novel) | Maybe an artist | Montague, Liz | 2022 | Young Adult | YA | Grades 7-11 | Ages 12-18 | Ages 12-up | Gr 7-Up | 4 | School Library Journal (October 1, 2022) Gr 7 Up-This graphic-format memoir is told from the POV of Montague as an adult, looking back on her childhood and exploring how her life changed from grammar school through adulthood. She reflects back to her earliest days, when she was trying to figure out what she wanted to be when she grew up. Growing up as a Black girl with severe dyslexia, she spent time trying to find her voice as an artist while trying to break through barriers at the same time. The book is very effective in capturing the frustration and confusion of a young person dealing with a learning disorder and using her love of art to help her navigate reading. The cover, which puts a new spin on Rockwell's famous Triple Self-Portrait, grabs our attention right away, and the accomplished cartoons inside the book will hold the attention of even the most reluctant readers. The pace of this book takes its time until it ends quickly, with Montague's cartoons being published in the New Yorker, helping to pave the way for more inclusive comics. Montague's story is sometimes poignant but ultimately sweet and uplifting, and it will provide inspiration for young artists everywhere. VERDICT For fans of cartoons, true stories, overcoming odds, and women who carved out a unique place in the world.-Andrea Lipinski © Copyright 2022. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | Booklist (September 15, 2022 (Vol. 119, No. 2)) Grades 7-11. Beginning in first grade, when she was one of only two Black kids in her school, and spanning the years leading up to having her first cartoon accepted by the New Yorker, Montague describes her experiences as a child growing up in the rural suburbs of New Jersey, becoming socially conscious, and learning that she thinks and communicates best through art. Combining the messages, “the only way out is through” and “it gets better,” Montague shows how she stayed true to herself while fulfilling the goals others had for her. The art is deceptively simple and flat, with eye rolls doing much of the expressing (in the same family as Mo Willems' infamous pigeon), which works beautifully with the tone of the book. Like a friend telling the reader a story, the tone is kept personal and conversational, laced with much humor and an awareness of herself that comes only from hindsight. Different from most graphic memoirs aimed at teens, this will speak to many readers who feel like they aren’t being heard. | Kirkus Reviews (August 15, 2022) A Black cartoonist looks back at her school years and her path to career success. Montague opens her graphic memoir as an adult working through a creative block by remembering how she came to be an artist. On Sept. 11, 2001, she was only 5 and living in New Jersey. In the following years her dyslexia became obvious. As Montague moved on to middle school, she began to see journalism as her path, but her thoughts were consumed by struggles with academics and fitting in. While receiving praise for her artwork, she also realized she had a talent for track. High school brought its own challenges, as Montague felt invisible and overwhelmed as she grew to understand both the pressures of being a racial minority in her suburban community and the expectations to make the most of the opportunities provided by her parents’ sacrifices. In college on a track scholarship, Montague took an art class and found a fulfilling and successful direction for her life, breaking through as a published New Yorker cartoonist at age 22. The author maintains a youthful voice throughout: Her descriptions of school and social struggles are well done and will resonate with readers. Her growing self-awareness is handled with insight and wit. The lively, expressive drawing style combined with a soft color palette and clean white background works perfectly with the tone of the narrative. A delightful combination of text and images delivered with humor and heart. (Graphic memoir. 12-18) | |||||||||||||
33 | TW/KR | 745.5 | Crafting change : handmade activism, past and present | Vitkus, Jessica | 2022 | Young Adult | YA | Grades 7-12 | Ages 12-18 | Gr 6-Up | 3 | School Library Journal starred (January 1, 2023) Gr 6 Up-The 2016 Women's March tipped off "a new wave of appreciation for handicrafts and women's work." Here, meet some of the artivists who revived a sense of community while raising awareness around issues, such as Black Lives Matter, climate crisis, and gender inequality, via handiwork. Vitkus who recounts her own history as an artivist, organizes the book by types of handiwork, from embroidery to quilting to knitting to a catch-all chapter that includes using stencils, cake decoration, beading, graffiti, wheatpasting, and zine-making. Each chapter offers historical context and project ideas. While many of these crafts are designed simply to embellish and "decorate," artivists use them to change consciousness, create human billboards, and design timely messaging via aerial photography, graffiti, flyering, or social media. Reading the interview excerpts with craftivists, such as Black Girl Magic Portraits creator Melissa Blount, Pussyhat Project creators Jayna Zweiman and Krista Suh, and organizations like the Be Seen Project, will give any craftivist or crafting club lots of steam and concrete ways to connect with a wider community. Doing handiwork together, sew-ins, quilting circles, and knitting clubs, is age-old and gives a source of joy and purpose in times of crisis, provides anger management, and as Shannon Downey describes it, even presents a way out of phone addiction. VERDICT An excellent purchase for all libraries, expertly organized to document the psychological benefits and historical and contemporary ways crafting brings communities together in action.-Sara Lissa Paulson © Copyright 2023. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | Booklist starred (November 1, 2022 (Vol. 119, No. 5)) Grades 7-12. For young people angry, frustrated, and wanting to take action against national crises, Vitkus offers creative ways to make a difference while having fun that can be summed up in one word: craftivism. Beginning with the author’s own entrée into the movement by crafting a satirical Department of Homeland Security Blanket, this primer of sorts is divided into crafting areas, including embroidery, knitting, quilting, and sculpting and building, as well as arts such as baking, photography, and graffiti. Within each section, chapters focus on individuals using their craft to raise awareness of key societal issues, such as Krista Suh and Jayna Zweiman—whose knitted, pink pussyhats contributed to feminist marches—and Guillermo Galindo, who collects objects left at the Mexico–U.S. border and turns them into musical “sonic devices.” To show that craftivism is not a new concept, however, more chapters spotlight historical crafting, like women’s sewing circles that raised awareness to end slavery and the ongoing NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt. Whether introducing modern or historical craftivists, Vitkus explains the societal issue driving each craft and related controversies (e.g., racism within early women’s sewing circles) in a direct, conversational style that speaks to, not at, teen readers. Emphasizing enjoyment and process over professional products, she concludes with helpful tips and easy-to-start projects. At once fascinating, thought-provoking, and inspiring. | Kirkus Reviews (September 1, 2022) An overview of using crafts as a form of political activism. Profiling a variety of makers, craftspeople who use their creations to get their messages out, this bright, well-illustrated book encourages readers to try their hands at craftivism. A variety of pursuits are showcased—baking, fiber arts, and sculpting, among others—and the author interviews each creator, presenting their backstory and path to expressing themselves through crafting. The subjects are broadly diverse, and their passions connect to a range of social issues, so most readers will both feel included and learn something new. Vitkus’ upbeat narrative emphasizes that it is community and message rather than technical skill that are the important parts of craftivism. Many of the people profiled are unapologetically angry about causes including sexual assault, Black women’s history, and gun violence. The poignant story of the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt begun in 1987 is heartening, giving context to craftivism’s ability to produce change, something all the craftivists profiled are working to achieve. Over 48,000 panels strong, the quilt was developed to bear witness to the often shunned victims of AIDS and lead to greater awareness and support; it raised nearly $500,000 for AIDS research in its first year alone. Brief but cogent history lessons enrich the narrative and connect present-day activists with a legacy of creative protest. A few simple projects to get readers started are included. Expansive, inclusive, and motivating. (photo credits) (Nonfiction. 12-18) | ||||||||||||||
34 | TW/KR | 790.1 | Teen guide to hobbies | Roland, James | 2025 | Young Adult | YA | Gr 7-Up | 1 | School Library Journal (August 1, 2024) Gr 7 Up-Essential life skills, such as financial literacy, finding a job, and exploring personal interests are given center stage in this series. Life Skills presents a general overview of necessary aspects of "adulting" that teens should be ready for, such as purchasing car insurance, moving into their first apartment, and going to the doctor for annual visits. Managing Money breaks down important topics even further, delving into balancing a budget, investing, and debt with easy-to-understand terms. Hobbies explores how practicing leisure activities and side endeavors benefits physical, social, and mental health. Plenty of white space and bright colors add to the titles' readability. Diagrams, charts, pull quotes, and relatable photos of teens from all identities make these volumes attractive and engaging. Back matter includes source notes, further reading, and an index. VERDICT Practical, accessible resources for teens in need of "adulting" guidance. Purchase for all college and career readiness shelves.-Shelley M. Diaz © Copyright 2024. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | ||||||||||||||||||
35 | TW/KR | 794.1 | Game of kings : a year among the geeks, oddballs, and geniuses who make up America's top high school chess team | Weinreb, Michael | 2008 | Young Adult | YA | 2 | Kirkus Reviews (December 1, 2006) Minority chess jocks dominate the game, but social realities prove tougher opponents. Sportswriter Weinreb documents a year with Brooklyn's Edward R. Murrow High School chess team--a dynastic powerhouse that has come to dominate the sport (yes, sport) since its formation two decades ago. Murrow's success is made particularly noteworthy by the makeup of the team; these young geniuses are not the product of privilege and private education, but inner-city youths from low-income immigrant families. Weinreb deftly explores the quirky personalities of the team's stars: wry, mordant Sal, a Lithuanian prodigy approaching grand-master status; intense and self-punishing Ilya, the team's under-confident Russian captain; irrepressible Oscar, a genial and unpredictable gambler who's family hails from Puerto Rico; and the worrisome Shawn, also Puerto Rican, a hulking, unmotivated talent who employs chess as a method for avoiding school work and hustling extra cash in the park. The set-up seems ripe for a standard inspirational Stand and Deliver narrative, but the book is compelling in its ambivalent view of the role of chess in these young students' lives--their brilliance does not translate into stellar grades, and the future educational and professional prospects of the Murrow team are anything but secure, an irony driven home when the championship team, diffident, distracted and directionless, are congratulated in a photo-op by George Bush. Weinreb paces the action expertly--the individual chess matches are rendered as exciting as any NCAA nail-biter--and the season's ebbs and flows intermingle with the prosaic details of inner-city adolescence to singularly lyrical effect. Weinreb gives much attention to the academic culture of the "alternative" public Murrow school, where individuality and personal responsibility for one's education are emphasized; a double-edged sword for these gifted but at-risk students, who all too often abuse the school's laissez-fare policies. Accounts of Murrow's recent trend toward more conventional operations yield only more ambivalence: Fewer children are "left behind," but the cost may be an end to the nurturing environment that has brought forth such frustrating, eccentric genius. A fascinating subculture sensitively brought to light, along with some troubling questions. | Publishers Weekly (January 8, 2007) Weinreb, whose work has appeared three times in The Best American Sports Writing, offers the story of a year spent with Brooklyn's Edward R. Murrow High School chess team as it strives for a national championship. Weinreb makes several choices that work well for a year-in-the-life account. For one, he eschews unnecessary speculation about the teen chess prodigies' psychology, a strategy that taken with his deft reporting of how they view themselves and one another renders them more accessible, more natural and consequently more interesting. Weinreb also expands his arena by investigating the cultural milieu of the modern chess world. He describes what it takes to be a successful high-level chess player, the difficulties women have in this world, the very nature of the game and the phenomenon of the chess prodigy, using the experience of Josh Waitzkin, who has now retired from competitive chess and was the subject of the movie Searching for Bobby Fischer. All this is supported by well-chosen detail, intelligence and terrific writing. Weinreb clearly develops an affection for the eclectic members of the team, and because of the skill he brings to his project, so will his readers. B&w illus. (Mar. 1) Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information. | ||||||||||||||||||
36 | TW/KR | 796.42 | Hurdles in the dark | Gonzalez, Elvira K | 2024 | Young Adult | YA | Grades 8-12 | Ages 14-18 | Ages 14-up | Gr 9-Up | 4 | School Library Journal Xpress (November 15, 2024) Gr 9 Up-Mexican American athlete and track star Gonzalez delves into overcoming immense challenges in her life. The majority of her memoir centers on her high school career as a track and field hurdler. She saw the sport as her opportunity to earn a college scholarship and to make a better life for herself. Gonzalez had to jump many hurdles in her life as well, including leaving the barrio where all her family lived, raising $40,000 to save her kidnapped mother who crossed the border for a wedding, being arrested and taken to a juvenile detention center, and sexual abuse by her coach. Despite these obstacles, Gonzalez was a nationally ranked track star and received a full college athletic scholarship until a series of injuries resulted in her losing her scholarship. Gonzalez later created a thriving track and field club team as a coach and went back to school to become a first-generation college graduate. There are so many life lessons packed into this memoir. Readers will be absorbed by Gonzalez's honest account of her setbacks and triumphs, utilizing many journals and diaries she kept growing up. The tone shifts to the adult Gonzalez for the afterword; it is here that she explains her life lessons, her college experiences, and more. She also talks more about the darker side of sports, including grooming and sexual abuse, and the importance of mental health and finding the right help. VERDICT Highly recommended for any high school library in need more memoirs emphasizing the importance of sports and mental health.-Jeni Tahaney © Copyright 2024. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | Booklist (April 15, 2024 (Vol. 120, No. 16)) Grades 8-12. In an honest and uncensored narrative, Gonzalez provides a look at her childhood during a time when she was extremely scared and vulnerable. She discusses how a drug cartel kidnapped her mother and demanded a ransom. The book also includes her time in one of the worst juvenile detention centers in Texas, which eventually led to her becoming a strong hurdle and sprint competitor in state and national championships. This book provides an intimate look at her life and how, through hard work, determination, and grit, she overcame and survived. The book includes themes that are far too common in young adults' lives, especially those in sports: predatory adults, sexual misconduct and abuse, and manipulation. This book can be viewed as a stepping stone for young adults on a path to finding their voice and speaking out against sexual abuse. The author writes about herself in a smooth, approachable style, which makes this memoir read like a novel instead of a traditional biography. Strongly recommended for public and high-school libraries. | Kirkus Reviews (March 15, 2024) An athlete shares her journey from her childhood barrio in Texas to the collegiate track. Fourteen-year-old Elvira Kristelle “Kristy” Gonzalez had 24 hours to raise $40,000 to rescue her mother from the kidnappers across the border in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, who had abducted her following a wedding. Caught in the middle of drug-fueled violence, Kristy’s life took a shocking turn. Instead of racing boys to help her friends win bets, she had to race the clock to save her mother’s life. When Ma returned, utterly traumatized by the experience, Kristy was deeply affected, too—“I try looking into her eyes, but every time I do, they haunt me.” Kristy became suicidal but had to deal with her own severe trauma alone. She decided to seek a path to higher education by getting a hurdling scholarship. But she faced trial after trial—from landing in juvie at 16 following constant fighting with Ma to being groomed and abused by a coach. Kristy found herself continually jumping over hurdles, both figuratively and literally. In this perceptive narrative, moments of joy, confidence, and light contrast with the depths of confusion, hurt, and darkness, highlighting the struggles that many vulnerable young athletes from underrepresented backgrounds face. The author pays homage to her Tejana heritage throughout, often using Spanish phrases that are explained in English in context. An unfiltered and honest account of perseverance, resilience, and defying the odds. (afterword, bibliography, recommended reading, resources) (Memoir. 14-18) | |||||||||||||
37 | TW/KR | 797.3 | Beyond the board : the untold story of the world's most daring big wave surfer | Gabeira, Maya | 2025 | Young Adult | YA | Grades 8-12 | Ages 14-18 | Gr 9-Up | 3 | School Library Journal Xpress starred (June 6, 2025) Gr 9 Up-Gabeira, the world's top female big-wave surfer, began her surfing journey at the age of 14. She left her home in Rio de Janeiro in to chase waves around the world at the age of 17. She surfed in many countries including Brazil, Australia, the United States, South Africa, and Tahiti. Gabeira won her first big-wave award at the age of 19. She enjoyed the amazing journey to be a professional, but at the same time, she felt enormous pressure and criticism. She knew that she was no longer a novelty, an underdog, a surprising Brazilian teenager who chased big waves on occasion. She felt even more pressure to pursue excellence. In this memoir, Gabeira chronicles her remarkable journey from a determined yet anxiety-plagued adolescent to a Guinness World Record holder. She depicts her formative years: the romances, career highlights, vulnerabilities, and setbacks that defined her at an early age. She noticed the alcohol abuse commonly in the field and learned how to withstand the abuse that comes with being a woman in a male-dominated field. Gabeira's amazing surfing journey has provided many opportunities to live in different countries and some surprising culture-shock experiences. VERDICT This book will inspire young athletes to break barriers, such as gender and age, to charter their own course and pursue excellence. Highly recommended.-Anna Ching-Yu Wong © Copyright 2025. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | Booklist (July 2025 (Vol. 121, No. 21)) Grades 8-12. Brazilian athlete Gabeira presents a firsthand look at her rise from a disaffected teen to a record-holding big wave surfer. As a child in Rio de Janeiro, Gabeira had little direction in her life before she discovered surfing as a young teen. Chasing waves provided the purpose and challenge she craved. By age 17, Gabeira had decided to go pro, fixing her focus on becoming one of the world's top female big wave surfers. Beyond the Board shares Gabeira's story by telling rather than showing, missing several opportunities for readers to immerse themselves in the scenes. Much of the plot is thus trailed by a vague sense of having missed something. That said, the book's fast pace, upbeat view, and heart-on-sleeve tone make it an engaging read about perseverance through a lesser-known yet worldwide sport. As fresh, fast, and fun as the waves Gabeira surfs, Beyond the Board is a solid addition to any YA biography bookshelf. | Kirkus Reviews (May 15, 2025) A memoir from a woman pioneer of big wave surfing. As a young teen, Gabeira, who grew up in Rio de Janeiro, was introduced to surfing at a beach party she attended with a friend from dance school—and she instantly fell in love. Headstrong and independent, she convinced her divorced parents to let her dedicate herself to learning to surf, kicking off a lifelong obsession that even her severe asthma couldn’t dampen. As she trained in Brazil and locales as far-flung as Australia, Hawaii, and Indonesia, Gabeira struggled to find her place in this male-dominated sport. She had a chance meeting with Eraldo Gueiros, a big wave surfer—someone who rides waves measuring 20 feet and higher (the term isn’t defined in the book)—and his enthusiasm inspired her to strive to become the world’s best big wave surfer. As one of the first women to attempt to conquer such massive waves, Gabeira faced misogyny, double standards, isolation, and harsh critiques from men who surrounded her. Injuries, anxiety, heartbreak, and self-doubt all plagued her as she pushed herself to break the world record for the biggest wave ever surfed by a woman, which she succeeded in doing in Nazaré, Portugal. Although the minimal dialogue and relatively few descriptions of scenes make the narration feel dense at times, Gabeira’s journey will captivate young athletes and inspire them to break barriers. A celebration of the possibilities for those who are made to feel like outsiders in sports. (Memoir. 14-18) | ||||||||||||||
38 | TW/KR | 812 (Literature/Academic) | Death of a salesman : certain private conversations in two acts and a requiem | Miller, Arthur | 2015 | Young Adult | YA | Gr 9-Up | 3 | School Library Journal (January 1, 2012) Gr 9 Up-In this full-cast performance featuring Stacy Keach and Jane Kaczmarck, Arthur Miller's 1949 classic has been recorded in front of a live audience. Miller's story of Willy Loman, the iconic traveling salesman, and his ultimate unraveling while in pursuit of the American dream invokes both empathy and pity. While Willy's linear thinking serves to illustrate his incessant need for success, his loyalty and love for his family peppers the story with humanity, making it just as relevant today as it was more than 60 years ago. The performance is powerful, with the narrators playing their characters with intensity and a humorous irony. Limited, yet calculated use of sound effects adds to the effectiveness of the production. While there are other audio versions of the play, the sound quality here is far better than previously recorded versions. Add this title to high school library collections where Death of a Salesman is part of the curriculum.-Rebecca Flannery, Lyman Memorial High School, Lebanon, CT (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | Publishers Weekly (January 2, 2012) This L.A. Theatre Works full-cast production of Miller's classic play about the crashing of the American Dream is an especially poignant listen during the current financial crisis. As the Loman family's aspirations come crashing down, patriarch Willy battles his ego and his slow decline into old age, while his two boys continue to fail as men. But with money dwindling, they must make one last attempt to find financial stability. Stacy Keach offers up an admirable rendition of Willy, for whom listeners will easily feel empathy as he swings from mood to mood. Keach's emotional range and energy dominates what is already an impressive production in terms of acting, sound effects, and sound clarity. Jane Kaczmarek provides a winning performance as Linda Loman, battling against the dominating and condescending males within the family. This audio drama proves so enjoyable that a second listening will definitely be necessary. (Aug.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved. | Library Journal (March 1, 1999) This 50th-anniversary edition of Miller's masterpiece, which certainly is a contender for the finest American drama of the 20th century, includes the full text of the play, a chronology of its productions, photos from various stagings including the current Broadway revival, and a new preface by Miller himself, all in a quality hardcover for a reasonable price. Bravo, Penguin. | ||||||||||||||||
39 | TW/KR | 940.54 | The mysterious Virginia Hall : World War II's most dangerous spy | Friddell, Claudia | 2025 | Young Adult | YA | Grades 7-10 | Ages 12-18 | Gr 7-Up | 3 | School Library Journal (May 1, 2025) Gr 7 Up-This inspiring tale of courage, intelligence, and determination introduces Virginia Hall, one of history's most remarkable, but relatively unknown, heroes. From her adventurous childhood in Maryland to her secretive and courageous work in Nazi-occupied France, Hall's journey is one of resilience and resolve. She overcame many challenges and became one of the first female agents recruited by the British Special Operations Executive and later worked for Allied intelligence, where she risked her life organizing resistance fighters and gathering crucial information. Despite being a private person who never sought fame, her work organizing resistance fighters and executing daring missions was crucial to the war effort. The book explores significant historical events, including the Great Depression's effect on Hall's family and the difficulties women faced entering the diplomatic corps. What makes Hall's story so fascinating is her ability to defy expectations. After an accident cost her a leg, she refused to let it slow her down, even humorously giving her wooden prosthetic a name, Cuthbert. Her story not only highlights the dangers of espionage but also relates the challenges women faced in the early 20th century. The free verse format makes the biography visually accessible and appealing, especially for struggling readers. Well-placed historical photographs and primary source documents provide additional insight, while the back matter includes valuable resources, such as a bibliography and a list of Hall's honors. VERDICT This biography is a good addition to a secondary school's biography collection. Readers who enjoy stories of bravery, espionage, and strong female figures will find Hall's story both thrilling and inspiring.-Lynne Stover © Copyright 2025. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | Booklist (May 1, 2025 (Vol. 121, No. 17)) Grades 7-10. Friddell’s love letter to a lesser-known WWII spy presents an impressive true story in an inviting format. Virginia Hall—known as Dindy to her family and by a variety of code names to her spy networks and Hitler’s Gestapo—sought out a career as a foreign ambassador. After endless rejections, though, she found a new calling in resistance fighting. After studying in France and developing a love for the country, Hall immediately became involved in the French resistance in the face of Nazi Germany’s threat. Even after losing her leg in a hunting accident and facing the disrespect of countless men in her field, Hall never hesitated to put herself in danger to help others fight for the greater good. Friddell’s biography in verse paints a vivid picture in addition to presenting the facts, grounding the incredible story of an important American woman in illuminating context, while period photos break up the text nicely. A riveting exploration of Virginia Hall’s life and work, especially her undercover escapades, told with as much ease and enjoyment as a wartime spy mystery. | Kirkus Reviews (May 15, 2025) Traces the exciting life of a pioneering spy who became the CIA’s first tenured woman officer. Virginia Hall, who was born into Baltimore high society in the early 20th century, was a white woman of many names and talents. After opening with a foreword by her great-nephew, this work written in spare verse traces Hall’s early life and illustrious career. She was a daredevil who enjoyed international travel from an early age and pursued graduate studies in French and economics. The first time she attempted to join the Foreign Service, she failed the exam. Following a hunting accident in Turkey which resulted in the loss of her left leg below the knee, she was rejected for being an amputee. In 1940, Hall became an ambulance driver on the front lines of World War II in France, opening the door for her to spy for Britain’s Special Operations Executive, becoming one of the most respected—and hunted—spies in France. After the war, she joined the Central Intelligence Group, later known as the CIA. Friddell relays Hall’s thrilling exploits, firmly grounding them within historical events. The short chapters, plentiful photos, and ample white space make this inviting to readers overwhelmed by dense text, although the choppy verse affects readability (Heather Demetrios’ conversationally written 2021 biography of Hall, Code Name Badass, would supplement this work well). A satisfying introduction to a remarkable woman’s influential contributions to espionage. (author’s note, Hall’s awards and honors, source notes, bibliography, picture credits) (Verse biography. 12-18) | ||||||||||||||
40 | TW/KR | 947.085 | I wish I didn't have to tell you this | Yelchin, Eugene | 2025 | Young Adult | YA | Grades 9-12 | Ages 14-18 | Gr 10-Up | 4 | School Library Journal (September 1, 2025) Gr 10 Up-Yelchin wrote about his early life of growing up in Cold War Russia in his previous children's book, The Genius Under the Table, with a mix of prose and illustration. This follow-up is a graphic memoir about his life in his 20s, still behind the Iron Curtain, still an artist, and now much more aware of the KGB's stranglehold on citizens. His choice to stay close his mother and grandmother and exhibit his art underground leads to a chance encounter with Libby, an American woman, interested in understanding Jewish immigration from the Soviet Union. Her limited Russian and his limited English make for an oddly romantic connection from the start. The graphic memoir asks for a lot of prior knowledge from readers, and those with only an understanding of present-day Russia may require additional aid in contextualizing that country's push into Afghanistan, the 1980 Olympics, and anti-Jewish sentiment. But what the book lacks in foundation, it makes up for in tone. Through dialogue and black-and-white illustrations, Yelchin captures the harsh reality of being forced to choose between immigrating, serving time in the military, or marrying an American-only to end up in an asylum, separated from both family and Libby. The tumultuous time is evenly distributed among the short chapters, introduced by a few punctuated words to usher in the drama. VERDICT Older teen readers will be enriched by this graphic memoir of a young man seeking to break out of the oppressive Soviet regime.-Alicia Abdul © Copyright 2025. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | Horn Book Magazine (September/October, 2025) This graphic memoir, a sequel to The Genius Under the Table (rev. 9/21) but for a teen audience, picks up in 1980 Leningrad, with Yelchin's early adulthood. Yevgeny (as he was then known), who's obsessed with Americans, meets American student Libby while showing his art at an illegal exhibition and sneaks away with her during a raid by the KGB. Yevgeny starts out with some naivete about the political and antisemitic danger around him, but that changes with the "accidental" death of a Jewish friend denied permission to emigrate. He and Libby agree to marry, both out of love and so Yevgeny can emigrate himself, but the long process of obtaining a marriage license and then an exit visa drags on through difficult years. Yevgeny avoids the draft by working as a theater designer in Siberia near a nuclear plant, is eventually drafted (not without putting up a fight), and finds himself in a psychiatric hospital, where he is injected with drugs that affect his memory. Tension builds throughout, with the varying degrees of sharpness in the black-and-white panel illustrations perfectly matching that mood and reflecting the murkiness of what Yevgeny understands. Though the stakes are high, this political and artistic coming-of-age story has plenty of broadly relatable moments of indecision, stubbornness, frustration, and (often dark) humor, as its young subject figures out who he is, where he wants to be, and how to get there. Shoshana Flax September/October 2025 p.92 | Booklist starred (July 2025 (Vol. 121, No. 21)) Grades 9-12. Self-exiled to Siberia to avoid Soviet involvement in Afghanistan, locked away for days evading the soldiers hunting him down, and eventually consigned to a mental hospital, young artist Yevgeny Yelchin pleads not to be given their memory-stealing injections. “Calm down, Yevgeny,” the doctor says, “there’s nothing to remember.” Perhaps this is the most nightmarish moment in a 432-page nightmare, the culmination of an identity-destroying journey that, moment to moment, is as banal as could be. A continuation of Yelchin’s autobiographical The Genius under the Table (2021), this effectively stand-alone piece chronicles his burgeoning adulthood, still crammed into an apartment with his Jewish family, creating sets for theatrical productions, and falling in love with American student Libby—at first a curiosity, then his girlfriend, his fiancé, and (with state approval) his wife. Maybe no one expected authoritarianism to be experiencing such a renaissance since the late twentieth-century fall of the Soviet Union, but this proves a detailed, poignant, and gut-wrenchingly relevant elucidation of life under a government whose autocratic practices are particularly oppressive for the humanitarian pursuits of art and love. This is in no small part due to award-magnet Yelchin’s art, the gray palette capturing the never-quite-numbing-enough psychological oppression while the limber, idiosyncratic figures—along with the author’s indispensable humor—hold tight to the humanity struggling beneath it all. | ||||||||||||||
41 | TW/KR | 947.085 | The genius under the table : growing up behind the Iron Curtain | Yelchin, Eugene | 2024 | Middle School | 5-8 | Grades 5-8 | Ages 10-adult | Ages 9-12 | Gr 5-Up | 5 | School Library Journal starred (October 1, 2021) Gr 5 Up-Yelchin has created an unforgettable portrayal of one family's experiences living in the Soviet Union during the Cold War in his ingenious memoir. Using expressive drawings, Yelchin enhances his story of growing up in Leningrad. Yevgeny, his brother Victor, father, mother, and grandmother all share one room in a communal apartment. Each figure is shown to be beautifully human, flaws and all. Victor is a wonderful ice skater who began by skating behind trucks in traffic; the father is a stern Communist who loves Russian poets, such as Osip Mandelstam; the mother works for the Vaganova Ballet School and adores Mikhail Baryshnikov; and the grandmother is keeping a secret about their grandfather. Every evening, all the furniture in their one room living space has to be moved to convert it into their bedroom. Yevgeny sleeps under the dining room table, where he draws on the underside of the table each night with a pencil he has taken from his father. When his drawings are discovered, Yevgeny earns the nickname of "The Genius Under the Table" from his family and begins to study drawing. With an engaging and likable subject, Newbery Honor author Yelchin offers a poignant look at growing up during Cold War-era Soviet Union that will fascinate readers. VERDICT Recommended for those who love captivating memoirs mixed with humor.-Susan Catlett, Green Run H.S., Virginia Beach © Copyright 2021. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | Horn Book Magazine (September/October, 2021) When it becomes clear that unathletic Yevgeny is not going to follow in the footsteps of his figure-skating-whiz older brother Victor, their mother hopes -- against all evidence -- that he might make it in the world of the Soviet Union's other big artistic export, ballet, where she herself works and even has the acquaintance of the rising star Mikhail Baryshnikov. But Yevgeny's genius lies elsewhere, literally under the family's noses, if they only thought to look beneath the dining table where Yevgeny sleeps (and draws) each night. (It's a one-room apartment in 1960s Leningrad, housing Yevgeny, his brother and parents, and his grandmother, who gets some of the best lines in this book.) We now know Yevgeny as Newbery Honor-winning author and illustrator Eugene Yelchin (Breaking Stalin's Nose, rev. 9/11), and this memoir of his adolescence is a forthright, darkly humorous, and indelible portrait of an artist emerging. Family crowding and dynamics aside, the obstacles in Yevgeny's life are large (Soviet authoritarianism and antisemitism chief among them), but always grounded in the particulars of this kid's story: "Don't cry, boy," says a neighbor to an upset Yevgeny. "Have a cookie. You yids like sweets." As you can see from the excerpt on pages 21-28 of this issue, Yelchin, wonderfully, allows his text and pictures to interrupt each other with glee, reminding us how life begets art. It certainly does here. Roger Sutton September/October 2021 p.129 | Booklist starred (June 1, 2021 (Vol. 117, No. 19)) Grades 5-8. This warm and wonderfully illustrated autobiography comes from the author of Newbery Honor Book Breaking Stalin's Nose (2011). Yelchin describes his 1960s Leningrad childhood in the former Soviet Union, where his entire family crowds into a one-room apartment right next to the resident KGB informer. Mom is hopelessly in love with Misha Baryshnikov. Dad weeps over his favorite Russian poets. Big brother Victor is a champion figure skater. And little Yevgeny? His talents seem . . . elusive. Yevgeny is frustrated not only because of his cloudy future but also because of the questions he isn't allowed to ask, let alone get answered: "How heavy is the Iron Curtain?" "What does it mean when people 'defecate' and seek asylum?" "Why is Grandpa cut out of all our family photos?" Yevgeny finds solace in drawing on his secret canvas—the underside of Grandma's table. Luckily, when his pictures are discovered, he is declared a genius and starts art lessons. The self-effacing narrative seamlessly blends in Cold War history, Soviet politics, and loving family interchanges, and Yelchin's sly illustrations appear on almost every page. There's not a lot of material about this time period, and this humorous, informative, and engaging memoir will keep readers entertained. | |||||||||||||
42 | TW/KR | 951.904 | Devotion : an epic story of heroism and friendship | Makos, Adam | 2022 | Young Adult | YA | Grades 7-10 | Ages 12-17 | 2 | Booklist (May 15, 2022 (Vol. 118, No. 18)) Grades 7-10. Opening with a pilot crash-landing behind enemy lines, Makos (Spearhead, 2019) hits the ground running in this exciting account of friendship during the Korean War. The pilot in question is Ensign Jesse Brown, the U.S. Navy’s first Black carrier-ship pilot. Flying overhead is Lieutenant Tom Hudner, who is desperate to rescue his downed friend. Having established his dramatic chops, Makos then flashes back to the two pilots’ respective childhoods. The son of a sharecropper, Brown grew up poor in rural Mississippi. Hudner, on the other hand, was a white child of privilege, growing up in a wealthy family in Massachusetts. Despite their different backgrounds, the two would become fast friends, be assigned to the same squadron, and fly combat missions together. Makos then introduces Marine PFC John (Red) Parkinson, whose experiences fighting on the ground are vividly described. This adaptation for young adults skillfully offers a memorable story of courage and devotion during America’s “forgotten war,” which is appended with numerous photographs. An upcoming film of this story will drum up additional interest. | Kirkus Reviews (March 15, 2022) In this young readers’ adaptation of the 2015 title for adults by the same name, a courageous pilot’s moral compass makes him go against his rule-following tendencies in a bid to save his friend behind enemy lines. The atrocities of war became the backdrop for a unique and unlikely friendship. In 1949, Jesse Brown from Mississippi was one of only five African Americans among the Navy’s 45,000 officers. In contrast, Tom Hudner was a young White man of means from Massachusetts when he entered the Naval Academy. These two officers navigated the racism that percolated just beneath the surface of the Navy, complicating their initial steps toward friendship. The author’s exploration of the internal lives of both men helps explain their actions and highlight their true natures, leading up to the tragic moment when Hudner risked his life in a vain attempt to save Brown, an act for which he later received a Medal of Honor. The Korean War and its aftermath become real; readers learn about the physical realities of being on the front lines as people witnessed death up close and the responsibility they felt afterward to honor those who served valiantly. Historical photos provide an added level of humanity. The strong pacing will keep readers’ senses alert and fully engaged as they fly through danger with these brave men. A breathtaking account of the experiences of two naval pilots during the Korean War. (photo credits) (Nonfiction. 12-17) | ||||||||||||||||
43 | Danforth Junior High School | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
44 | TW/KR | -Fic- | At the edge of lost | Brockenbrough, Martha | 2025 | Middle School | 5-8 | Gr 4-7 | 2 | School Library Journal starred (October 1, 2025) Gr 4-7-Brockenbrough's second middle grade title delivers an emotionally charged survival tale centered on family, resilience, and an unbreakable human-animal bond between a teen and his beloved dog. Caleb wants nothing more than stability after years of moving for his parents' State Department postings. Staying with his grandfather Poppy in a senior living community with his best friend (and dog) Ronan, is comfortable if nontraditional-until a virulent avian flu outbreak upends everything. When Poppy falls ill, and Caleb is whisked into quarantine, circumstances require Ronan be left behind. Ronan will not be separated from Caleb in his time of need and escapes to find his boy, navigating a world full of human and natural hazards. Told in alternating perspectives-Caleb's anxious, determined voice and Ronan's soulful, perceptive one-the narrative explores loss, loyalty, and survival against a backdrop of isolation and uncertainty. The author's portrayal of pandemic anxiety feels authentic and timely without overwhelming the story's heart. Caleb has already lived through a pandemic and understands the threats are real. However, the dog's point of view is a standout feature, offering emotional immediacy and a poignant counterbalance to Caleb's turmoil. Themes of love, responsibility, and hope resonate deeply, making this an ideal pick for readers drawn to stories of animal loyalty or classics like White Fang. VERDICT A timely, heartfelt, and emotive adventure for fans of survival or dog narratives using a quick pace to grip readers.-Jessica Bushore © Copyright 2025. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | Horn Book Magazine (November/December, 2025) Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic, Caleb has been averse to change. So when his parents, who work for the State Department, get a new posting in Vietnam, Caleb successfully lobbies to stay in Seattle with his grandfather, Poppy, rather than be separated from his friends and, most essentially, his aging Irish wolfhound, Ronan. When a new strain of avian flu breaks out and Poppy gets sick, Caleb is sent to Bainbridge Island to live with a prickly great-aunt, who hates dogs. Consequently, Ronan is left alone to await Caleb's mom's imminent return -- but not for long. Desperate to reunite with Caleb, Ronan escapes, only to become injured and stranded in the woods. As a massive storm bears down, Caleb grows increasingly fearful about Ronan's whereabouts and takes matters into his own hands. Brockenbrough's (To Catch a Thief, rev. 5/23) latest is an adventure story with a big heart, told in two first-person voices: Caleb's (complete with text threads from his group chat) and Ronan's, which is both lyrical and wise: "To love as a dog is to let go of the small things, the false things, so that there is nothing left but the truth of you." The fast-paced narrative successfully weaves numerous strands about forgiveness, growth, and change -- but the overarching message is one of a love fierce enough to fight for. Animal lovers won't want to miss this canine-centered tale of loyalty and determination. Norah Piehl November/December 2025 p.62 | |||||||||||||||||
45 | TW/KR | -Fic- | Goodbye stranger | Stead, Rebecca | 2017 | Middle School | 5-8 | Grades 5-8 | Ages 11-14 | Ages 10-up | Gr 6-9 | 7 | School Library Journal (May 1, 2015) Gr 6-9-Ah, seventh grade! A year when your friends transform inexplicably, your own body and emotions perplex you, and the world seems fraught with questions, and the most confusing ones of all concern the nature of love. Stead focuses on Bridge Barsamian, her best girlfriends, and her newest friend Sherm-a boy who is definitely not her boyfriend (probably). They're navigating the shoals of adolescence on Manhattan's Upper West Side. Emily has suddenly developed a figure that attracts a lot of attention, Tabitha is an increasingly committed human rights activist, and Bridge has taken to wearing a headband with black cat's ears for reasons that are unclear even to her. The seventh graders aren't the only characters working out relationships. There are married parents and divorced parents and then there's Sherm's grandfather who has suddenly left his wife of 50 years and moved to New Jersey. There's also a mysterious character whose Valentine's Day is doled out in second-person snippets interspersed within the rest of the story. Love is serious, but Stead's writing isn't ponderous. It's filled with humor, delightful coincidences, and the sorts of things (salacious cell phone photos, lunchroom politics, talent show auditions) that escalate in ways that can seem life-shattering to a 13-year-old. The author keeps all her balls in the air until she catches them safely with ineffable grace. VERDICT An immensely satisfying addition for Stead's many fans.-Miriam Lang Budin, Chappaqua Library, NY © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | Horn Book Magazine (March/April, 2016) Stead�s latest novel is as rich and complex as her Newbery Award�winning When You Reach Me (rev. 7/09), which might present a challenge for an audiobook. Happily, this production successfully keeps track of multiple threads by using three different narrators. Seventh-grader Bridge�s chapters are read by one narrator; her friend Sherm�s by another; and an unnamed teenage girl whose narration is in the second person (�you�) is the third. Change, betrayal, deep friendship, family devotion, and the beginnings of romantic love and attraction are just some of the themes here, all portrayed through characters who are so vivid and realistic that the listener almost expects them to walk into the room. susan dove lempke | Booklist starred (May 15, 2015 (Vol. 111, No. 18)) Grades 5-8. Starting seventh grade means lots of changes for Bridge and her best friends Em and Tabitha. The most obvious is Em’s sudden curves, which grab the attention of pretty much everyone. Other changes are more subtle, like the way Bridge starts looking forward to seeing her classmate Sherman Russo, or Tabitha’s growing interest in feminism and social justice. With diverging interests and gently simmering jealousies among the threesome, it would be easy for Stead to tell an all-too-familiar tale of a crumbling tween-girl trio. But she doesn’t: rather, she offers a refreshing story of three girls whose loving friendship survives fights, accepts odd habits, and offers ample forgiveness. Unfolding over a series of vignettes that alternate among Bridge, an unnamed high-school girl worried about the consequences of her betrayal of a friend, and letters Sherm writes to his absent grandfather, Stead’s latest gradually teases out the nuanced feelings and motivations that guide her characters’ sometimes unwise—but never disastrous—actions. Bridge and her friends are all experiencing a quietly momentous shift toward adulthood, and Stead gracefully, frankly, and humorously captures that change. Though that change is often scary, Stead shows how strongly love of all kinds can smooth the juddering path toward adulthood. Winsome, bighearted, and altogether rewarding. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: The release of any new book by Newbery medalist Stead is a publishing event to circle on your calendar. | |||||||||||||
46 | TW/KR | -Fic- | Meet me at sunset | Spotlight Sprinkles | Heart, Lee | 2025 | Middle School | 5-8 | Gr 3-7 | 1 | School Library Journal (May 1, 2025) Gr 3-7-Sweet romances for young readers. Meet Me at Sunset is a dramatic journey through Julie's "Love Plan" for her summer at the beach. It would help if she had a BFF, but that just isn't part of her blueprint. When her mom throws a wrench in the works by inviting her friend's daughter, Sophia, Julie's summer looks like it might go off the rails and her plan to win over James will be ruined. An honest look at the sensitive nature of young teens and tweens, squabbles, camaraderie, and first loves. Easy-to-digest chapters and a manageable length make this book a great fit for middle grade readers who want a light, entertaining, yet highly engaging read. Written in the Stars follows Olivia and Quinn at summer camp after the recent death of Quinn's dad. Camp Whispering Woods promises a time of normality and healing for Quinn, until Harry, the CBB (cute British boy) poses a bit of an obstacle to a "normal" summer at camp. Tender and touching, this gentle exploration of grief and first love will be an easy sell to young readers. VERDICT These titles offer a perfect opportunity for middle grade readers who want an innocent exploration of romance and crushes. © Copyright 2025. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | |||||||||||||||||
47 | TW/KR | -Fic- | Playing for keeps | Spotlight Sprinkles | Heart, Lee | 2025 | Middle School | 5-8 | Gr 5-8 | 1 | School Library Journal (October 1, 2025) Gr 5-8-Tweens looking for a gentle introduction to romance will find lots to love in this swoon-worthy series. Because each volume follows a different set of characters, readers can begin with any of the books available, including this one which follows Aaliyah and Travis, seventh graders who have been best friends since birth. Having spent all summer apart, Aaliyah is shocked to discover that Travis is now about a foot taller and is suddenly the most crush-worthy boy at their middle school. Worse, he apparently has a girlfriend that he never told her about and has no time even to return her texts. An earnest exploration of the fraught feelings, miscommunications, and changing relationship dynamics inherent to adolescence will resonate with many young readers, and the tension of Aaliyah and Travis's growing feelings for one another is highly engaging. Short, simple chapters and chaste romantic interactions make these perfect for middle schoolers with hearts in their eyes. VERDICT A perfect addition to any middle school library. Have this series handy for tweens looking to dip their toes into romance. © Copyright 2025. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | |||||||||||||||||
48 | TW/KR | -Fic- | Powerless | Powerless | 1 | Roberts, Lauren | 2023 | Young Adult | YA | Ages 14-up | 1 | Publishers Weekly (September 18, 2023) For decades, the Kingdom of Ilya has been populated by Elites, the lucky few who received supernatural abilities after surviving a devastating plague. In a society in which Ordinaries are systematically exiled by the king, orphan Paedyn Gray, 18, leads a hardscrabble life posing as a Psychic to hide her Ordinary status. After she saves 19-year-old Prince Kai Azer in a chance encounter, Paedyn is selected to compete in the Purging Trials, where she must fight against other Elites in a prestigious tournament meant to showcase Ilya’s best and brightest. Kai’s participation complicates matters further, especially since he has been trained to hunt and kill Ordinaries. As the Trials become increasingly deadly, Paedyn and Kai must reconcile their burgeoning romantic feelings for each other with their respective places in a brutal and discriminatory society. Roberts unevenly touches on themes of privilege and inequality via sometimes overly descriptive prose, which slows the pace of this titillating debut. Paedyn and Kai’s alternating POVs skillfully juxtapose steamy romantic encounters with heart-pounding action and gory violence, delivering a tale of political and personal intrigue that capably kicks off an epic trilogy. Characters cue as white. Ages 14-up. (Nov.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved. | ||||||||||||||||
49 | TW/KR | -Fic- | The buzzer beater | Local Legends | Walker, Lane | 2026 | Upper Elementary | 3-6 | Gr 4-6 | 1 | School Library Journal (October 1, 2025) Gr 4-6-This new six-title series features a different eighth-grade protagonist in each book, each living in a different city and playing a different sport: basketball, soccer, hockey, baseball, golf, and football. With fast-paced plots and a heavy focus on sports action, these books will appeal to upper elementary and middle school readers who love athletics. Each story also includes a compelling side plot that adds depth-addressing themes like anger, bullying, moving, and navigating competitive pressure. As the characters grow on and off the field, readers are treated to relatable moments of personal development. VERDICT A solid addition to sports fiction collections that's sure to score with young athletes. Recommended for purchase. © Copyright 2025. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | |||||||||||||||||
50 | TW/KR | -Fic- | The game changer | Local Legends | Walker, Lane | 2026 | Upper Elementary | 3-6 | Gr 4-6 | 1 | School Library Journal (October 1, 2025) Gr 4-6-This new six-title series features a different eighth-grade protagonist in each book, each living in a different city and playing a different sport: basketball, soccer, hockey, baseball, golf, and football. With fast-paced plots and a heavy focus on sports action, these books will appeal to upper elementary and middle school readers who love athletics. Each story also includes a compelling side plot that adds depth-addressing themes like anger, bullying, moving, and navigating competitive pressure. As the characters grow on and off the field, readers are treated to relatable moments of personal development. VERDICT A solid addition to sports fiction collections that's sure to score with young athletes. Recommended for purchase. © Copyright 2025. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | |||||||||||||||||
51 | TW/KR | -Fic- | The golden puck | Local Legends | Walker, Lane | 2026 | Upper Elementary | 3-6 | Gr 4-6 | 1 | School Library Journal (October 1, 2025) Gr 4-6-This new six-title series features a different eighth-grade protagonist in each book, each living in a different city and playing a different sport: basketball, soccer, hockey, baseball, golf, and football. With fast-paced plots and a heavy focus on sports action, these books will appeal to upper elementary and middle school readers who love athletics. Each story also includes a compelling side plot that adds depth-addressing themes like anger, bullying, moving, and navigating competitive pressure. As the characters grow on and off the field, readers are treated to relatable moments of personal development. VERDICT A solid addition to sports fiction collections that's sure to score with young athletes. Recommended for purchase. © Copyright 2025. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | |||||||||||||||||
52 | TW/KR | -Fic- | The high cheese | Local Legends | Walker, Lane | 2026 | Upper Elementary | 3-6 | Gr 4-6 | 1 | School Library Journal (October 1, 2025) Gr 4-6-This new six-title series features a different eighth-grade protagonist in each book, each living in a different city and playing a different sport: basketball, soccer, hockey, baseball, golf, and football. With fast-paced plots and a heavy focus on sports action, these books will appeal to upper elementary and middle school readers who love athletics. Each story also includes a compelling side plot that adds depth-addressing themes like anger, bullying, moving, and navigating competitive pressure. As the characters grow on and off the field, readers are treated to relatable moments of personal development. VERDICT A solid addition to sports fiction collections that's sure to score with young athletes. Recommended for purchase. © Copyright 2025. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | |||||||||||||||||
53 | TW/KR | -Fic- | The last green | Local Legends | Walker, Lane | 2026 | Upper Elementary | 3-6 | Gr 4-6 | 1 | School Library Journal (October 1, 2025) Gr 4-6-This new six-title series features a different eighth-grade protagonist in each book, each living in a different city and playing a different sport: basketball, soccer, hockey, baseball, golf, and football. With fast-paced plots and a heavy focus on sports action, these books will appeal to upper elementary and middle school readers who love athletics. Each story also includes a compelling side plot that adds depth-addressing themes like anger, bullying, moving, and navigating competitive pressure. As the characters grow on and off the field, readers are treated to relatable moments of personal development. VERDICT A solid addition to sports fiction collections that's sure to score with young athletes. Recommended for purchase. © Copyright 2025. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | |||||||||||||||||
54 | TW/KR | -Fic- | The lost year | Marsh, Katherine | 2024 | Middle School | 5-8 | Grades 4-7 | Ages 9-14 | Ages 10-14 | 4 | Horn Book Magazine (March/April, 2023) Marsh�s affecting historical novel, inspired by her own family�s story, describes the social and political backdrop of the Holodomor, a famine that killed millions of Ukrainians in the 1930s and was covered up by the Soviets (Ukraine was a republic of the USSR at the time). It opens by introducing Matthew, a present-day, screen-obsessed thirteen-year-old living in New Jersey, �basically under house arrest� during the COVID-19 pandemic. He has been asked to help Nadiya, his hundred-year-old great-grandmother, to sort through her belongings; in so doing he starts to piece together the Lomachenko family story. Matthew�s chapters alternate with those of Mila, a Young Pioneer living in 1930s Kyiv under the watchful eye of her doting widowed father (and Papa Stalin), and of Nadiya�s cousin Helen in Depression-era Brooklyn. The harsh realities of the Stalin regime -- where citizens could be declared �class enemies,� evicted from their homes, and sent to labor colonies for any perceived anti-Party infraction -- come to light. The horrors of state-sanctioned starvation and the desperation of would-be refugees are palpable and disturbing to read, but they are made palatable because the experiences are filtered through the viewpoints and sensibilities of young people caught up in the disaster. The multiple voices come together to bear witness and remind us that history is a collection of stories, �and it matters enormously who gets to tell them.� A compelling and timely look at the historically complex and fraught relationship between Ukraine and Russia. Luann Toth March/April 2023 p.71 | Booklist starred (December 1, 2022 (Vol. 119, No. 7)) Grades 4-7. Matthew is stuck at home during the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, and, like most 13-year-olds, he would rather play video games than hang out with his 100-year-old great-grandmother, Nadiya, or “GG.” Matthew’s mom has other plans. Forced to unpack GG’s storage boxes, Matthew finds a photo that sparks questions and ultimately unspools a long-hidden history about GG’s childhood in Stalin-ruled Soviet Ukraine. Alternating perspectives between Matthew and GG’s cousins when they were young girls, the story connects 1930s Brooklyn to Communist Ukraine during its devastating, man-made famine, the Holodomor. As the cousins’ narratives unfold, the book also links two moments in history deeply impacted by disinformation; it encourages readers to consider carefully their sources and emphasizes that “we need to tell the whole story” and be mindful of whose stories have not—or cannot—be told. Marsh, Edgar Award–winning author of The Night Tourist (2007), explains in a note that she rooted her research in her own relatives’ experiences during the Holodomor. The fairly lengthy middle-grade book rewards readers with a nimble twist and satisfying ending and has an obvious urgency in light of current geopolitics. A natural selection for fans of Alan Gratz and a stepping stone to the work of Ruta Sepetys, this sobering and important story will be an excellent addition to classroom and library collections. | Kirkus Reviews (November 15, 2022) A 13-year-old boy trapped indoors by Covid-19 uncovers a dark family secret leading back to the Holodomor, the early 1930s Ukrainian famine caused by Stalin’s policies. When the pandemic shuts down the world in 2020, Matthew is more isolated than most kids. His journalist father is stuck in Paris, and since his mom has moved GG, his frail, 100-year-old, Ukrainian immigrant great-grandmother, in with them, protecting her means Matthew can’t see his friends. Matthew starts helping GG sort her boxes of keepsakes, gradually piecing together a story that’s also told from the points of view of Mila, the privileged daughter of a Communist Party member, and Helen, the daughter of Ukrainian immigrants living in Brooklyn. When Helen’s cousins write to say they are starving, she secretly mails them her father’s cherished gold cross. Meanwhile, in Kyiv, Mila encounters a starving girl who claims to be her cousin Nadiya. Mila is a strong supporter of Papa Stalin, but her efforts to help Nadiya ultimately open her eyes to the truth about his regime—as well as endangering her own life. Marsh’s intertwining narratives ground the story of the Holodomor—which affected her own family—within a historical framework while leading up to a completely believable and emotionally powerful conclusion. A strong subplot discusses journalistic integrity and how one powerful man managed to keep the truth of the Holodomor hidden for years. A moving presentation of a long-suppressed piece of history. (author’s note) (Historical fiction. 9-14) | ||||||||||||||
55 | TW/KR | -Fic- | The storm blitz | Local Legends | Walker, Lane | 2026 | Upper Elementary | 3-6 | Gr 4-6 | 1 | School Library Journal (October 1, 2025) Gr 4-6-This new six-title series features a different eighth-grade protagonist in each book, each living in a different city and playing a different sport: basketball, soccer, hockey, baseball, golf, and football. With fast-paced plots and a heavy focus on sports action, these books will appeal to upper elementary and middle school readers who love athletics. Each story also includes a compelling side plot that adds depth-addressing themes like anger, bullying, moving, and navigating competitive pressure. As the characters grow on and off the field, readers are treated to relatable moments of personal development. VERDICT A solid addition to sports fiction collections that's sure to score with young athletes. Recommended for purchase. © Copyright 2025. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | |||||||||||||||||
56 | TW/KR | -Fic- | Ultimate gaming showdown | Player vs. Player | 1 | England, M. K | 2022 | Upper Elementary | 3-6 | Grades 5-8 | Ages 9-14 | Ages 8-12 | 3 | Booklist (June 1, 2022 (Vol. 118, No. 19)) Grades 5-8. Hurricane Games announces they’re starting a professional e-sports league for their online role-playing game, Affinity. Participants enter in teams of four, and the invitational tournament offers winners opportunities to turn pro. The protagonists in this fast-paced, action-packed story about friendship, responsibility, self-image, and leadership include Josh, whose dad wants him to stop wasting time online; Hannah, who practically lives at the public library because it’s the only place she can get internet; Larkin, whose parents have forbidden electronics in their home after Larkin’s older brother got into trouble with online gambling; and Wheatley, a mysterious assigned partner who quickly becomes part of the team. The four kids take turns narrating first-person chapters, expressing self-doubts, dodging parental interference, and describing the action of the onscreen bouts in glorious detail. The characters (especially the adults) are stereotypes, and the results predictable, but the story is a thrill ride, and the book ends on a cliff-hanger. This is a great selection for action-oriented readers and dedicated gamers. | Kirkus Reviews (April 1, 2022) In the online world of Affinity, gamers play to win. Four exceptionally talented and highly ranked Affinity players have just learned that the game will be hosting a top-level team tournament with incredible prizes. Though each of the tweens is individually a skilled and successful player, they’ll need to rely on one another to win. Personal issues threaten to get in the way of each team member’s tournament performance. Josh, their leader, has a dad who can’t stand his passion for video games. Larkin is gaming behind her parents’ backs—her home has a strict no video games policy—but she wants nothing more than to become a professional gamer. Hannah’s mom works long hours but still can’t afford high-speed internet, so Hannah games mostly at the public library or at school. Wheatley is hiding a huge secret that may change the way his teammates feel about him and jeopardize his spot on the team. The stakes are high, and the competition is fierce. Each member of the newly christened Weird Ones team must slay their own demons in order to rise to the top. The characterizations and the world of Affinity are well developed and compelling in this ode to virtual gaming and real friendships. Danger’s dynamic artwork adds to the sense of excitement. Josh is Chinese American; other characters are assumed White. A highly readable blend of gaming action and real-world problems. (game manual, character illustrations) (Fiction. 9-14) | Publishers Weekly (June 27, 2022) England’s (Spellhacker) action-packed series opener follows four intrepid gamers teaming up in a virtual tournament for a mysterious grand prize. As some of the top-ranked players of Affinity, an online pvp game, Josh, Larkin, Hannah, and Wheatley are invited to compete in an e-sports tournament sponsored by the platform’s creators, Hurricane Games. Though they barely know one another and are considered the underdogs among their competitors, some of whom are pros, the group, who have dubbed themselves the Weird Ones, is confident in their individual abilities. But real-life interpersonal challenges beyond Affinity threaten their chances at winning. Josh’s father disapproves of his constant internet usage; Larkin, who lives in a video game-free household, plays in secret; Hannah’s financial precarity makes playing difficult; and Wheatley is hiding a troubling secret. Danger’s graphic maps and intricate avatar design expertly complement the high-stakes thrills, written with an infectious passion for gaming. Conversational prose, imaginative worldbuilding, and the cast’s respective struggles balancing their e-sports dreams with reality add nuance to this fast-paced escapist adventure. Josh is a "skinny Chinese kid with glasses"; most other characters read as white. Ages 8-12. Agent: Eric Smith, P.S. Literary. (June) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved. | ||||||||||||
57 | TW/KR | -Fic- | Unfriended | Vail, Rachel | 2015 | Middle School | 5-8 | Grades 6-9 | Ages 12-15 | Ages 11-up | Gr 6-9 | 7 | School Library Journal (September 1, 2014) Gr 6-9-When Truly is invited to the popular table by her former best friend, Natasha, she is excited to finally get a chance at the "in" crowd. Unsure if she is really accepted by them, she worries about doing and saying the wrong thing. Popular Natasha is torn between being a good friend to Truly and being jealous of the attention that she gets. Meanwhile, Hazel, Truly's current best friend, who is decidedly unpopular and anti-popularity, is hurt and angry at being abandoned by her friend. She seeks revenge by hacking into all of Truly's online accounts. The addition of social media amplifies each snub, misunderstanding, and deliberate meanness. Although the characters' interactions may, at first glance seem melodramatic, it is a realistic portrayal of middle school life. Truly is depicted as a complex young adult, not a single-minded social climber, while Natasha's mean streak is the obvious product of questionable parenting. The other characters are multidimensional; they have struggles and worries, and are not the flat, stereotypical popular kids that are sometimes portrayed YA novels. As these young people navigate the already awkward world of middle school, the fact that accusations, rumors, and lies are made public for the world to see make adolescent mistakes much more grave. A solid choice that will ignite meaningful discussion.- Patricia Feriano, Our Lady of Mercy School, Potomac, MD (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | Horn Book Magazine (November/December, 2014) Vail brings her sharp observations and wry humor to the world of eighth-grade friendships. Truly Gonzales is so thrilled to be asked by former best friend Natasha to sit at the popular table that she completely ditches her current best friend Hazel. Things quickly spiral out of control, with hurt feelings, accusations, and rumors making their way around the school; everything is exacerbated when prickly Hazel writes Truly a mean note, then takes her revenge to social media. Shifting perspectives -- Truly, Hazel, Natasha, queen-bee Brooke, cute-boy Clay, etc. -- allow the story to unfold quickly as each person tells what happened from his or her own, not-at-all-unbiased point of view (Natasha: "The whole *tragedy* with Truly's freak friend Hazel is soooo brain-crushinglyyyyy dullllllll"). Parents and siblings are well defined, with their own struggles (about Natasha's mom, Truly observes: "She's one of those moms who wants to hang with the kids and be a friend to us�I think she seems lonely"). A history-class play based on the life of Benedict Arnold underscores some of the book's themes about heroes, traitors, manipulation, and perceptions over time. susan dove lempke | Booklist (September 15, 2014 (Vol. 111, No. 2)) Grades 6-9. Vail has always had her finger solidly on the pulse of middle-school social dynamics, with an uncanny ear for young teen dialogue and a real empathy for the wide and awkward range of social and physical development that characterize this age. In her latest title, which addresses cyberbullying among eighth-graders, multiple narrators give their first-person accounts of the thorny relationship between former best friends Truly and Natasha—and its effects on the social dynamic of a wide circle. Natasha is now the queen bee of the popular crowd, while Truly is still physically tiny and socially awkward, hanging out with determinedly iconoclastic Hazel. When Natasha suddenly invites Truly to eat lunch with the popular crowd, everything changes and eventually deteriorates via Facebook posts. Two of the narrators are male, and Vail casts an understanding, sympathetic eye at the academic, social, and physical stresses on young men. Once again, Vail effectively conveys the sometimes unthinking cruelty of middle-school society with a clear and objective eye. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Vail’s considerable fan base alone would justify multiple-copy purchase plans, but the hot-button topic of cyberbullying will further increase requests. | |||||||||||||
58 | TW/KR | -Fic- | What if you fall for me first? | Miller, G. F | 2025 | Middle School | 5-8 | Ages 10-14 | 2 | Kirkus Reviews (May 15, 2025) In this modern-day middle school Pygmalion, an aspiring influencer agrees to help a quiet girl catch her crush’s attention in exchange for a social media boost. Thirteen-year-old eighth grader Sofia Santini is tired of being overlooked by everyone, including the object of her affection, Mark Chen; she’s an introvert who wants to be “fierce.” Most of their grade is under in-school suspension after a debacle in the gym at the Glow Night dance, so Sofia ends up chatting with Holden Thomas. Holden offers to coach Sofia through a transformation, but he wants to post photos so he can enter the glow-up challenge run by his favorite influencer, Igo Big. But while the unlikely companions focus on getting Mark to notice Sofia, Holden and Sofia fall for each other instead: He loves her kindness and humor, and she sees that his cool guy facade is an act to protect himself from feeling that no one likes him, including his parents and stepparents. The chapters alternate between Sofia’s and Holden’s points of view in close third person; the beginning overlaps with the end of Not If You Break Up With Me First (2024), though each stands alone. The white-presenting pair’s chaste chemistry is convincing, and readers will root for them as they discover that changing yourself to please another person isn’t the path to happiness. Secondary characters are diverse in race and sexuality. A sweetly affirming and empowering read. (Fiction. 10-14) | Horn Book Guide (March, 2025) Thirteen-year-old Sofia wants her crush, Mark, to like her but feels shy and immature around him. Her classmate, Holden, is looking for "glow-up pics" to become a viral influencer. Holden giving Sofia a makeover seems like it will solve both their problems -- until they realize they are falling for each other. The familiar plot feels fresh thanks to well-developed characters, authentic middle-school dynamics, and solid chemistry. | |||||||||||||||||
59 | TW/KR | -Fic- | Written in the stars | Spotlight Sprinkles | Heart, Lee | 2025 | Middle School | 5-8 | Grades 4-8 | Gr 3-7 | 2 | School Library Journal (May 1, 2025) Gr 3-7-Sweet romances for young readers. Meet Me at Sunset is a dramatic journey through Julie's "Love Plan" for her summer at the beach. It would help if she had a BFF, but that just isn't part of her blueprint. When her mom throws a wrench in the works by inviting her friend's daughter, Sophia, Julie's summer looks like it might go off the rails and her plan to win over James will be ruined. An honest look at the sensitive nature of young teens and tweens, squabbles, camaraderie, and first loves. Easy-to-digest chapters and a manageable length make this book a great fit for middle grade readers who want a light, entertaining, yet highly engaging read. Written in the Stars follows Olivia and Quinn at summer camp after the recent death of Quinn's dad. Camp Whispering Woods promises a time of normality and healing for Quinn, until Harry, the CBB (cute British boy) poses a bit of an obstacle to a "normal" summer at camp. Tender and touching, this gentle exploration of grief and first love will be an easy sell to young readers. VERDICT These titles offer a perfect opportunity for middle grade readers who want an innocent exploration of romance and crushes. © Copyright 2025. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | Booklist (May 1, 2025 (Vol. 121, No. 17)) Grades 4-8. Quinn has been going to Camp Whispering Woods for years. The girls’ cabins are separated from the boys’, and that’s just fine with her. Only this year, she spots a boy with a delightful British accent whom she cannot ignore. Does she want Harry to be her boyfriend? And, if so, is one of her bunkmates trying to steal him away before she even has the chance? Throughout the six weeks of summer camp, Quinn’s friends, old and new, support her as she tries to navigate her first summer since her dad passed away. The simple plot contains little conflict and will appeal to middle-graders who may themselves be contemplating their very first crushes. An easy read for early middle-schoolers with plenty of appeal for reluctant readers, this can be handed with confidence to fans of Shug (2006), by Jenny Han, and Sleepaway Girls (2009), by Jen Calonita. This short, stand-alone romance is part of the new Spotlight Sprinkles series dedicated to tween rom-coms; series title Meet Me at Sunset, also by Heart, publishes simultaneously. | |||||||||||||||
60 | TW/KR | 741.5 (Graphic Novel) | Four eyes | Four Eyes | 1 | Ogle, Rex | 2023 | Middle School | 5-8 | Grades 3-7 | Ages 8-12 | Ages 8-12 | Gr 5-8 | 5 | School Library Journal Xpress starred (May 26, 2023) Gr 5-8-In Ogle's graphic memoir, he explores universal adolescent themes including self-doubt, friendship troubles, and the pressure to conform. Rex is dreading the transition to middle school, especially since he will start with a group of students he's never met before. He's also struggling with his family dynamics, as he navigates having a stepdad, a half-brother, and a dad who just doesn't seem to care about him. In school, Rex struggles to see the whiteboard in his classes, and he immediately stresses about how that will impact him and his academics. After a trip to the optometrist, Rex is branded with glasses. Between his "nerd-ware" and his mom's job as a waitress at a restaurant, putting his socioeconomic status on display to his classmates, he's not sure if he will survive the sixth grade. This coming-of-age story also tackles classism and stress related to non-traditional family dynamics. Reminiscent of Maria Scrivan's illustrative style, Valeza's captivating visual spreads seamlessly complement the plot and tone of the book. The dynamic and purposeful page layouts enable readers to concentrate on the flow and significance of the text. VERDICT A great addition to graphic novel sections of libraries and classrooms in middle schools.-Angie Jameson © Copyright 2023. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | Horn Book Magazine (July/August, 2023) Rex is looking forward to starting middle school, but his sixth-grade year starts off poorly when he realizes he needs glasses. He's seen other kids being bullied for wearing glasses, and when he goes to school wearing them, Rex is, indeed, made fun of. Victor and his friends are unrelenting, calling him geek, nerd, weirdo, and, of course, four eyes. Victor is the cool guy, and his band of bullies gains popularity by association with him. Even Rex's best friend, Drew, abandons him in favor of Victor, who goes even further and makes fun of Rex's mother for being a waitress. However, after a long depiction of the ways and means of middle-school meanness, Ogle (Free Lunch) and Valeza give the story a positive turn. Rex's abuela tells him the story of the truly hard times of her childhood in Mexico, a few kids from his class who share his "nerdy" interests in comic books and Star Wars become friends, and even Drew returns to the fold. The graphic-novel format is used effectively in this story loosely based on Ogle's life. Sharply defined images become blurry to show readers how Rex sees things; when Abuela relates her childhood story, the colorful palette shifts to gray backgrounds to suggest the family's struggles; and several panels portray the verbal abuse Victor is subjected to by his father, implying why Victor himself has taken to bullying. Rex's glasses help him see more clearly, but listening to his parents, Abuela, and his friends helps him understand what's truly important. Dean Schneider July/August 2023 p.120 | Booklist starred (June 1, 2023 (Vol. 119, No. 19)) Grades 3-7. The transition from elementary to middle school can be tough, but Rex is optimistic as he gets ready for his first day of sixth grade. Once he arrives, however, things are not quite what he expected: many of his previous classmates are not there, and his best friend, Drew, is hanging out with a new crowd, who aren't the nicest group of kids. On top of it all, Rex is having trouble with his vision, and it's affecting his performance in school. He sees how kids with glasses are treated by his peers and dreads how he'd be treated if he were wearing them, too. Beneath the drama of Rex's glasses, Ogle weaves in meaningful subplots—Rex's working-class mom and stepdad struggle to make ends meet, and his wealthy father's acrimonious attitude toward Rex's mother causes tension. Ogle powerfully depicts middle-school bullying, the pressures of living in a low-income family, and the struggle to find a place to fit in and to stand up for one's self, all with multifaceted characters. Valeza and Szymanik's well-paced, wonderfully crafted, and expressive artwork does an excellent job of capturing the emotional turns of this captivating, honest story about adolescence. Hand to fans of Raina Telgemeier, Dan Santat, Jerry Craft, and Shannon Hale. | |||||||||||
61 | TW/KR | 741.5 (Graphic Novel) | Gamerville | Christmas, Johnnie | 2024 | Middle School | 5-8 | Grades 3-6 | Ages 9-12 | Ages 8-12 | Gr 4-7 | 4 | School Library Journal Xpress (June 28, 2024) Gr 4-7-Max loves video games and he's good at them. In fact, he made the championship finals for his favorite game, "Lone Wolf of Calamity Bay," and is going to Gamerville! But his mother is overprotective; she worries about his safety and that video games will make him weird. As a result, she pulls strings to get him into Camp Reset, which starts the next day. Max schemes to escape from this tech-free camp, and the story's perspective shifts to Zanzi, a Camp Reset lover and veteran, and to Dylan, who struggles to control his anger. The shift to these and many more camp characters turns Max's singular narrative into additional story arcs that add depth but can sometimes be tricky to follow. But messages about unhealthy habits, conflict resolution, connection, and being open to new challenges even out the wonkiness of the storylines. Structured into 12 chapter "levels," Max's journey to redemption ties together all characters. Christmas's art is clean and dynamic with striking colors and a variety of panel layouts. Immersion into the world of "Lone Wolf," with asides of Max strategizing, will resonate with video game players, as will the parallels between Max's gaming mind and the survival and collaboration skills he gains at camp. VERDICT The success and relatability of Christmas's Swim Team will draw middle grade readers to this charming graphic novel of video games, camp, making friends, and finding balance. Recommended.-Jamie Winchell © Copyright 2024. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | Booklist (June 1, 2024 (Vol. 120, No. 19)) Grades 3-6. Maxwell lives the anxiety dream of countless kids: just before the championship tournament for the video game he’s mastered, his parents inform him that he’s going off to nature camp for a month—starting tomorrow! Turns out nature’s as bad as he feared, and he hatches an escape plan, which brings him to two allies of necessity, each of whom is working through their own difficulties. As relationships deepen and unexpected skills accrue, Maxwell makes his escape just in time for the big competition, but all three friends find that truly worthwhile goals may not have been the ones they’ve clung to for so long. Christmas tackles interesting, relevant, and unusual themes—tradition versus change, anger management, the value of well-rounded interests—and presents thoughtful, emotional outcomes. The fairly straightforward visualization gains pep from clever character designs and zippy in-video-game action sequences, and a campground heist that generates suspense also gives the three allies with distinct outlooks and issues the chance to bond into a satisfying friendship. | Kirkus Reviews (June 1, 2024) Can online gaming strategies help a boy escape from summer camp in time for a video game tournament? Maxwell lives for video games, and qualifying for the Gamerville tournament is his greatest achievement yet. However, recognizing the negative impact excessive gaming is having, Max’s highly protective mother realizes he needs more outdoor time: She signs him up for technology-free Camp Reset, a place she has fond memories of attending as a child, although it conflicts with the tournament. Zanzi, the great-great-granddaughter of Camp Reset’s founder, strictly and enthusiastically adheres to tradition, causing her friends to pull away. Camper Dylan struggles with overcoming his past as a cyberbully. Through his video game lens, Max at first sees other kids as recruitable allies, but he gradually realizes they’re true friends. Still, he’s determined to escape to Gamerville; could strategies he’s learning at camp help? Max’s and Zanzi’s families are Black; the supporting cast is racially diverse. This vibrant, colorful graphic novel shows that change engenders growth and improvement, and that strategies and skills are transferable between very different settings. The lavish facilities (for the small number of campers), minimal adult supervision, and questionable safety protocols strain credulity, but Christmas’ work commendably demonstrates respect for both video game culture and unplugged living, showing the positives and negatives of each while offering valuable representations of Black kids enjoying nature and gaming. Themes of positive change thread this tribute to video games, summer camp, and emotional growth. (Graphic adventure. 9-12) | |||||||||||||
62 | TW/KR | 741.5 (Graphic Novel) | Refugee, the graphic novel | Gratz, Alan | 2025 | Middle School | 5-8 | Ages 10-13 | Gr 4-8 | 2 | School Library Journal (September 1, 2025) Gr 4-8-In 1939, Josef's Jewish family flees Berlin to escape the Nazi regime. In 1994, Isabel's family sails toward Miami, leaving Castro and Cuba behind. In 2015, Mahmoud and his family run from Syria as civil war rages. Decades and thousands of miles separate them, but Josef, Isabel, and Mahmoud share one thing in common: they are refugees, and their stories converge in surprising ways. This graphic novel adaptation is faithful to the original book, omitting only minor details from the main plotlines. The illustrations, which resemble the superhero comics art style, effectively heighten the drama. For example, when Josef's apartment is trashed by Nazi storm troopers, dark shadows in each panel convey the abruptness of the nighttime raid and the family's terror. The coloring is exquisite, showcasing the beauty of Isabel's Havana and the despair of Mahmoud's Aleppo. Maps are helpfully placed at the beginning of the chapters, showing each character's place in their journey. While the illustrations add excitement, the original novel's emotional heft can get lost in the graphic novel format, and the cliff-hanger chapter endings are not as riveting. The author's note has been updated to reflect new information about Syrian and Cuban refugees since the prose novel's publication. VERDICT The original Refugee remains an important and timely book; this graphic novel adaptation brings the moving stories of Josef, Isabel, and Mahmoud to life for a new generation of readers. A good choice for where the original is popular.-Danielle Sachdeva © Copyright 2025. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | Kirkus Reviews (August 1, 2025) In this graphic version of Gratz’s bestselling 2017 novel, three groups of refugees in different eras face bitter hardship and persecution in the course of desperate searches for safety. Set respectively in 1938, 1994, and 2015, the accounts involve a passenger ship full of German Jews, a thrown-together group of Cubans on a leaky boat, and a bombed-out Syrian family striking out for the E.U. The original novel folded in actual experiences and, in some cases, real people, unspooling three storylines in short, interleaved chapters; this new edition preserves that structure. It’s a tossup whether the change in format offers any real advantages. On the one hand, actually seeing expressively posed characters and the period details around them brings both the cast and the settings sharply to life, moments of crisis and terror have cinematic impact, and racial and cultural differences remain strongly present. On the other, though, because the graphic “chapters” are only three to five pages each, and all the art is done in a similar style and palette, the dozens of switches from one storyline to the next come with dizzying frequency and can’t help but impede the narrative flow. Still, after skillfully interweaving his three powerful stories together at their ends, the author urgently invites readers to contemplate their contrasts, parallels, and ever-cogent common themes. An effective adaptation, still relevant and likely to find a fresh audience. (afterword) (Graphic historical fiction. 10-13) | ||||||||||||||||
63 | TW/KR | 741.5 (Graphic Novel) | Secrets of Camp Whatever. 1 | Secrets of Camp Whatever | 1 | Grine, Chris | 2021 | Middle School | 5-8 | Grades 4-7 | Ages 8-12 | Gr 4-7 | 3 | School Library Journal Xpress (May 7, 2021) Gr 4-7-Willow, a Latinx biracial tween with purple hair, is not pleased to be moving with her family to the town of "Nowhere." To make matters worse, she is being dropped off at the same weeklong summer camp her dad used to attend. Willow also has to deal with an odd camp director who patronizes her once he finds out she is deaf and wears hearing aids. But all those troubles fade when she and her cabinmates discover that the foggy island is inhabited by supernatural creatures. Friendship, humor, and teamwork help them grapple with Bigfoot, a witch, gnomes, and a vampire. Grine's clean and appealing illustrations flow well. The art suits this whimsical mystery. Backgrounds are minimal, with more detail paid to the strange creatures and eerie woods than to the campers, and the palette is subdued, dominated by grays, lavenders, and blues. VERDICT Sure to be a hit with young readers, especially fans of the "Lumberjanes" books and the TV series Gravity Falls. The conclusion hints that more magical adventures await Willow and her friends, which makes this new series one to invest in.-Nancy McKay, Byron P.L., IL © Copyright 2021. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | Booklist (March 15, 2021 (Vol. 117, No. 14)) Grades 4-7. In a town called Nowhere, scary creatures are all part of the local folklore residents tell to folks passing through. None of it could possibly be true . . . or could it? Willow and her family just moved to Nowhere, and she's not thrilled. She's also not thrilled about having to spend the week at Camp Whatever, especially after she hears about a camper who went missing years ago. Willow, who is Deaf, quickly makes friends with other new kids at the camp (and bristles at the camp director, who is ableist about her Deafness), but when she starts seeing odd things at all hours, she realizes all the strange stories she's heard just might be true! Grine's bright, colorful artwork contains just the right amount of spookiness, with easy-to-read lettering well positioned within each panel. He playfully and gently incorporates some common horror movie tropes, and the story features a refreshingly inclusive group of campers and staff. A cute and creepy comic ideal for middle-graders hungry for breezy scares. | Kirkus Reviews (January 1, 2021) A young girl unwillingly goes to a camp filled with fantastical creatures. After they inherit an old family property and move to the strange town of Nowhere, Willow, a purple-haired middle schooler, is sent off to Camp Whatever. Rumors of the eeriness and potential dangers of the camp (not to mention the possible haunting of their new home) begin as soon as Willow and her family set foot in a local diner. Unenthused Willow feigns being scared—but even that isn’t enough to change the minds of her somewhat apprehensive parents, due in part to her father’s fond childhood memories of attending said camp. When Willow arrives, she soon realizes that the outrageous tales are not unfounded. Her camp experience quickly becomes one filled with adventure, friendship, mystery—and a permanent, creepy fog. Grine’s protagonist is daring and bold, and the cast of characters is diverse in both ethnicity and mythical makeup. The narration is straightforward and easy to follow, making it suitable for reluctant readers. The color illustrations are sharp, vivid, and eye-catching and serve to convey the personalities of characters while helping to telegraph the mood of the story. Willow, who is Deaf, uses hearing aids and sign language; she is cued as biracial, with a Spanish-speaking Latinx mother and White-appearing father. Just the right amount of chills for tweens who enjoy supernatural suspense. (Graphic horror. 8-12) | ||||||||||||
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65 | TW/KR | -Fic- | A day at the beach | Schmidt, Gary D | 2025 | Upper Elementary | 3-6 | Grades 4-8 | Ages 9-13 | Ages 8-12 | Gr 5-Up | 4 | School Library Journal (April 1, 2025) Gr 5 Up-Schmidt's latest takes readers through a single day at a popular beach boardwalk following numerous characters and their perspectives. Readers hear about concurrent events through multiple lenses as each chapter highlights a new person and their experiences. Although there is some crossover of characters, most only get one chapter. Themes of family, coming of age, death, cancer, body image, and more are discussed through the windows into the culturally diverse group of characters' lives. Readers will not be bored as the story shifts from character to character. The scenes and interactions will be relatable to middle grade readers. Although there is no central story to follow, tweens will enjoy seeing how the characters' paths cross throughout the day. VERDICT This multi-viewpoint narrative highlighting tween interactions among family and friends will be enjoyed by many readers.-Anna Kambach © Copyright 2025. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | Booklist (March 1, 2025 (Vol. 121, No. 13)) Grades 4-8. A day at Rockcastle Beach unfolds through the POVs of over two dozen characters while the tide rushes in and out and families and friends pass the hours. Heart-wrenching and robust characterizations and propulsive pacing make this episodic novel feel interwoven but not contrived. From spoiled kids losing their phones to abandoned dogs under the bridge to losing your shorts in front of your crush, the array of stories asks the reader to laugh, worry, and love while also providing a realized community that invites them in. Schmidt’s usual tugging of the heartstrings resonates in quiet chapters of loneliness and hunger. The interplay between the two authors allows the story to feel cohesive while every POV switch still feels like a fresh start. While the book concludes with a happy, community-centric ending, it’s not a pat ending that ties every single thread together. Some friends are those you see on the beach for just a second and never see again, and the inclusion of such moments makes this a nice addition to realistic fiction shelves. | Kirkus Reviews (February 1, 2025) Two veteran novelists chronicle life-altering moments and meetings for an ensemble cast of young visitors to a New Jersey beach. Twenty-eight named children and two dogs may seem like a lot, but each one is so individually distinct that readers should have little trouble keeping them straight. The entries are arranged from dawn to dark, with Ma Van As’ grayscale art, which is reminiscent of animated features, offering occasional views of people lounging on blankets and similar emblematic beach scenes as visual breaks. The co-authors relate the incidents in an understated way that infuses even the seemingly minor or common ones with special “kid magic.” An impromptu group pretends that a stray dog can talk, for example. Events take a dramatic turn when a father yelling at his small son draws a flash mob of young people who circle him and stare silently until he stops. Meanwhile, in a lighter vein, Octavio’s secret crush offers help (along with some gentle mockery) when he loses his trunks, and Leslie forgets to be bored when an elderly beachcomber teaches her how to look closely at a wondrous queen conch shell. Young people take steps toward promising futures by laughing together, dealing with anxieties, and showing insight or compassion; their stories are individually entertaining and uplifting, with a cumulative effect. Names, references to food and homelands, and illustrations cue ethnic and racial diversity in the cast. A sandy slice-of-life treat, rich in feeling and insight from dawn to dark. (Fiction. 9-13) | |||||||||||||
66 | TW/KR | -Fic- | A game of Noctis | Fagan, Deva | 2025 | Middle School | 5-8 | Grades 4-7 | Ages 10-13 | Ages 10-up | Gr 3-7 | 5 | School Library Journal (March 1, 2024) Gr 3-7-Pia, 12, and her grandpa play games of strategy and luck to survive in this middle grade fantasy reminiscent of a less violent Hunger Games set on a fictional island resembling Venice. People's scores in the Great Game are tracked by the magical gamescript that visibly appears above their palms. Anyone whose score goes down to zero becomes a pawn and is forced into servitude or sent to the dreaded Pawn Isles. Pia's grandpa's score falls to zero due to his poor eyesight, but he can't afford eyeglasses, so he's banished to the Pawn Isles. To save him, Pia joins three other misfit teens to compete in the annual Noctis tournament, where teams complete dangerous trials before a live audience. Each member of Pia's team has a reason for competing, but to win they have to earn one another's trust. Renzo, the header of a rival team, was Pia's childhood best friend when she and her grandpa lived in his wealthy home, until Renzo's conniving and ambitious father, Lord Brascia, threw them out. Pia thought the games and their rules were infallible, but she and her team realize how wrong they were-and risk their lives to change that. Fagan successfully crafts an engaging fantasy that centers young people fighting for what's right by challenging the Great Game's rules and their island rulers' unfair status quo. Tween readers will keep turning pages to keep up with the twists and turns. Pia appears as white; several of her team members have darker skin. One is trans and another has two dads. VERDICT An exciting, fast-moving story for fans who like clever, strong-willed heroines battling enormous odds.-Sharon Rawlins © Copyright 2024. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | Horn Book Magazine (March/April, 2024) Ever since the plague three centuries ago, during which the Prince of Dantessa challenged Lady Death to a game of noctis for the lives of her people, inhabitants of the tiny magical island compete for wealth and standing by taking wagers in the Great Game, the magic system that oversees all games of chance. But when Pia's Gramps loses a final game and is banished, Pia will do whatever it takes to win the money it would take to recall him to play. Her opportunity comes when she is recruited by the Seafoxes into a tournament that carries a hefty prize. Their chief rival is the Krakens, captained by Renzo, once Pia's greatest childhood friend but now her enemy. Can the Seafoxes compete in an arena where the wealthy can afford magical boons that give them considerable advantages -- and can they find a way to break the Great Game so that wealth doesn't automatically equal winning? Befitting a society run by games, some of the magic is silly (one game involves dueling with swordfish; some boons involve being given zebra stripes or invulnerability while standing on one foot), but things become very serious when Lady Death herself appears in order to compete in the tournament. Inventive and unexpected, this creative fantasy will entertain readers while striking deeper notes of honor and teamwork in the face of peril. Anita L. Burkam March/April 2024 p.88 | Booklist starred (February 15, 2024 (Vol. 120, No. 12)) Grades 4-7. There are 8,684 officially recognized games in Dantessa, and every citizen’s life is shaped by their overall standing in the Great Game. Lose too many challenges and your personal score drops to zero, removing you from play and sending you into a life of servitude. Pia knows this better than most, as she watches her dear grandfather gets shipped off to Pawn Island after he suffers a final defeat trying to win coins for their supper. Desperate to earn a large enough fortune to purchase Gramps’ reinstatement, Pia joins a ragtag band of misfits with varying agendas in order to compete in the ultimate game, one that pits teams against Lady Death herself. As rule-following Pia and her teammates uncover the reality of the high-stakes gaming world, it becomes increasingly obvious that inequality abounds, and they become determined to change the established system, even if it requires the ultimate sacrifice. The transporting novel instantly enthralls, casting readers headlong into a world of impressively well-developed games and mythology. Pia shines as a phenomenal protagonist willing to examine long-held convictions as truths come to light, and the diverse supporting cast, including a delightfully disarming Lady Death, is equally enjoyable. A captivating consideration of what it means to be “good” in an unjust world. | |||||||||||||
67 | TW/KR | -Fic- | A hero's guide to summer vacation | Cartaya, Pablo | 2025 | Upper Elementary | 3-6 | Grades 4-6 | Ages 8-12 | Ages 8-12 | Gr 6-Up | 4 | School Library Journal (May 1, 2025) Gr 6 Up-In this exploration of grief, generational impact, and healing, readers will find a book they can't put down. Gonzalo Alberto Sánchez García is spending summer vacation with his estranged grandfather, author of a popular juvenile fantasy series. The next book in the series is launching, and the pair are supposed to fly cross-country for a book tour. Grandfather Alberto has other plans and friends to see, so they road-trip instead. Along the way, the two bond as Alberto shares snippets of his life and the dangers of his childhood in Cuba. Alberto softens towards Gonzalo and helps his grandson explore his grief. Gonzalo is struggling with the death of his scientist father; he is also distressed because he isn't scientifically inclined and feels like he's carrying the weight of saving the world by lowering carbon emissions. Alberto still grieves his parents and wife. Gonzalo's mom Veronica joins them, and like a geyser, the pressure builds until the three travelers erupt and must deal with the unacknowledged grief, pain, and anger among them. Conversations frequently include Spanish, and context clues assist those who don't read the Spanish. While there are loose ends, the book ends on hopeful notes. VERDICT Purchase where more books on processing grief are needed.-Sarah Sieg © Copyright 2025. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | Booklist starred (April 1, 2025 (Vol. 121, No. 15)) Grades 4-6. Cartaya weaves humor, heartbreak, and a host of literary tropes and techniques into this complex tale of three grieving road trippers. Having gone into serious decline since the death of his father, 13-year-old Gonzalo reluctantly agrees to accompany his grumpy, widowed abuelo—a Cuban-born immigrant who is about to publish the seventh and last volume of his phenomenally popular fantasy series—on an impulsive cross-country drive to Miami for the release party. As they make stops along the way (some potentially life-changing), the trip becomes increasingly less anonymous, and Gonzalo learns much about his reclusive grandfather’s family and past. They are joined partway through by Gonzalo’s mom, the supercharged CEO of the series’ marketing empire, and the three make a colorful set of, in turn, antagonists, allies, and wise advisers as each wrestles with feelings of loss and personal issues on the way to reconciliation and a buoyant finish. Meanwhile, until he’s firmly banished by his teenage protagonist, the author himself repeatedly breaks in with seemingly guileless reflections about foreshadowing, cliff- hangers, unreliable narrators, POV changes, and the power of stories, which will not only sneakily entice readers into analytical frames of mind but may well leave them thinking about how what characters experience and discover in books can reflect what’s happening in their own lives. | Kirkus Reviews (April 1, 2025) A 13-year-old embarks on a cross-country road trip with his famous grandfather. Grief-stricken middle schooler Gonzalo Alberto Sánchez García’s summer is off to a rocky start. He feels like he’s in a fog, he can’t stop drawing monsters against photos of landscapes on his iPad, and he’s stuck visiting his cranky, standoffish abuelo in Mendocino, California. Gonzalo’s Cuban grandfather is the renowned but reclusive fantasy author behind a “billion-dollar book-and-movie franchise” run by Gonzalo’s mother. Though generally reluctant to promote his work, Abuelo agrees to a tour for the release of the last book in the bestselling series. But he turns the tour into a journey to visit old friends and share his own wounds with Gonzalo in an attempt to help them both heal from the traumas they’ve suffered. Indeed, Abuelo’s plan proves poignantly effective as both he and Gonzalo slowly open up to each other and to all the joy still to be found in the world around them. Cartaya peppers Gonzalo’s first-person narrative with chapters voiced by an omniscient first-person narrator who breaks the fourth wall, directly addressing readers with plot recaps and commentary. While the narrator’s interruptions risk jarring readers out of the story’s flow, the shifts in perspective are charmingly and humorously executed, may support reading comprehension, and further the overarching bookish themes, since the story both revolves around a fictional book series and follows main character Gonzalo’s transformation into the hero of his own story. Cleverly structured and sweetly engaging. (author’s note) (Fiction. 8-12) | |||||||||||||
68 | TW/KR | -Fic- | Big changes for Plum! | Phelan, Matt | 2025 | Upper Elementary | 3-6 | Ages 7-10 | Gr 2-4 | 2 | School Library Journal Xpress (December 6, 2024) Gr 2-4-The fifth and, sadly, final book in Phelan's charming series finds plucky protagonist Plum assuming the role of co-head peacock, alongside his best friend Meg. It also sees the Athensville Zoo closing for renovations, the addition of a petting zoo, and zookeeper Lizzie considering a job offer. Especially worrisome for Plum and the peafowl is a threat to their home in the Great Tree and the arrival of a customer service robot that could replace them as the zoo's welcoming ambassadors. Ultimately, however, despite the animals' temporary displacement and all of their worries over changes to their habitats, the updates to the zoo prove to be beneficial. Plum learns that change can be good, and is even sometimes necessary. As in the previous installments, the writing is warm and witty, and short chapters keep the pace moving; in addition, Phelan's characteristic black-and-white illustrations are buoyant and lively. VERDICT A must-have conclusion to a winning series.-Lauren Strohecker © Copyright 2024. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | Kirkus Reviews (October 15, 2024) Plum returns for another adventure at the Athensville Zoo, along with some craftily conveyed life lessons. The fifth and final title in this series finds the perennially peppy peacock facing his biggest challenge yet: He’s been nominated to lead the peafowl flock, because of his “courage, wisdom, responsibility, loyalty…and above all else, a true and caring heart.” Plum’s one condition for accepting is that he have a co-leader (his best friend, Meg, of course), which introduces a key theme: Some traditions should change. Complications develop: first, demolition of the dangerously decrepit old zoo monorail. More perturbing still, the zoo is closing for renovations. Plum frets through the night, and he isn’t reassured by vague warnings from zookeeper Lizzie (cued Latine in previous titles) that more big changes are in store. Plum and Meg believe that the reconstruction will include the removal of their home, the Great Tree, and the relocation of the flock. Scary! Soon, many animals are in temporary quarters, and others have just disappeared. The arrival of—gasp!—a petting zoo and a robot who will usurp Plum’s guide job ramps up the threat. Subtle humor and snappy repartee distinguish this book. Short chapters speed by as the tension builds. Will Plum save the zoo? Should Plum save the zoo? And could it be that sometimes it’s better to embrace change than to angst over it? Pen-and-wash images add zest. A lively tale with an important warning: Worrying is often wasted on things that won’t happen. (Chapter book. 7-10) | ||||||||||||||||
69 | TW/KR | -Fic- | Busted | Gemeinhart, Dan | 2025 | Upper Elementary | 3-6 | Grades 4-7 | Ages 9-13 | Ages 8-12 | Gr 3-7 | 4 | School Library Journal starred (July 1, 2025) Gr 3-7-Twelve-year-old Oscar Aberdeen lives with his grandpa at Sunny Days, an assisted living facility for seniors. He is the apple of the elderly residents' eyes, and he considers all of them family. Oscar has seen his share of funerals and given the eulogy on several occasions. When Sunny Days changes hands, the new owner drastically increases the monthly rents. Unless Oscar and his grandpa can find money somewhere, they will be homeless at the end of the month. A mysterious new resident named Jimmy DeLuca moves in, setting the gossip mills churning; he's "connected," the gossips whisper, a mobster! Oscar steers clear until one day, Jimmy DeLuca makes him an offer he can't refuse: help him break out of the facility and Jimmy will pay him in stacks of cash, enough to pay the rent forever. "Operation Jimmy Shimmy" is afoot; the old man and Oscar sneak out the front and almost make a clean break, but they are ambushed by pesky girl Natasha who insists on coming along. The unlikely trio: the wheezing octogenarian mobster, good kid "Boy Scout" Oscar, and nosy Natasha set off in Jimmy's 1953 Kaiser Dragon. They make several stops and run into bad guys, car thieves, floozies, mobsters, gamblers, nogoodniks, cops, and overall sketchy people. Nonstop action and fast pacing keep the story rollicking along. Gemeinhart crafts a delightful story of unlikely friendships and breaking out of one's comfort zone. Tweens will enjoy the funny vocabulary and speech patterns Oscar has picked up from being around adults who are 60+ years his senior. Main characters are cued white. VERDICT A real humdinger of a story told by master storyteller; this title will appeal to tweens seeking high-stakes, high-fun realistic fiction.-Pamela Thompson McLeod © Copyright 2025. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | Booklist starred (September 1, 2025 (Vol. 122, No. 1)) Grades 4-7. Oscar’s childhood has never been ordinary. Orphaned at three days old, he has spent his life with his doting grandfather in the Sunny Hills Retirement Community, listening to Frank Sinatra, playing cards with the other residents, and occasionally delivering a eulogy at a funeral. Unwelcome change arrives in the form of a new owner and his young daughter, Natasha, followed by an immediate rent hike that will see Oscar and his grandfather evicted if they can’t cough up the difference before the month is out. So when Jimmy Deluca, a surly resident with rumored ties to the Mob, taps Oscar (in exchange for a hefty reward) to help him break out of the home and tie up some loose ends, the bewildered boy feels like it’s an offer he can’t refuse. With the lively Natasha in tow, making them an unlikely trio, they end up on an adventure that will change all their lives in remarkable ways. The quirky story’s quick tempo and sense of humor instantly enthrall, and Oscar’s old-fashioned predilections combined with Jimmy’s curmudgeonly quips are a recipe for hilarious high jinks. It’s a rousing intergenerational romp that manages to be both entertaining and uplifting, reminding young readers that while right and wrong may sometimes be difficult to discern, simply trying to “do the good thing” will take you far. | Kirkus Reviews (September 1, 2025) Against his better judgment, a 12-year-old raised in a retirement community by his grandfather helps a 104-year-old resident sneak off to take care of some unfinished business. Oscar Aberdeen has been strictly warned to steer clear of Jimmy Deluca, a new arrival with a shady past. But Pops can’t afford the new rent hike, and Oscar remembers advice from the late Guadalupe Montoya, one of his many senior surrogate grandparents: “Right and wrong can get confusing sometimes…So just do the good thing.” Between doing the right thing and doing the good thing, it’s always better to choose the latter. So when the irascible Jimmy promises big bucks in exchange for helping him run a few unspecified errands, Oscar overcomes his scruples, leading to a dizzying round of outrageous, life-altering predicaments and exploits. It’s a joy to watch Oscar learn to, at Jimmy’s insistent urging, “squeeze the orange” as they go. In quick succession, the bemused lad has a variety of rousing new experiences, from stealing back a stolen car to getting punched in the face. He also gets to deploy skills that are already in his wheelhouse, like playing cutthroat poker and sensitively comforting the dying. Gemeinhart kits out his reluctant but winningly resilient protagonist with a tragic backstory that adds nuance to his buttoned-up character, and the lively supporting cast includes more than a few seedy or hostile characters but no real villains. Characters largely present white. An exuberant joyride. (Fiction. 9-13) | |||||||||||||
70 | TW/KR | -Fic- | Code name 711 | Double Vision | 2 | Bradley, F. T | 2014 | Upper Elementary | 3-6 | Grades 4-6 | Ages 8-12 | Gr 4-7 | 4 | School Library Journal (January 1, 2014) Gr 4-7-Lincoln Baker, 12, is back. After an otherwise normal day with friends, he realizes that he is being trailed by black cars from Pandora, a top-secret agency. They need Lincoln to once again work with kid spy Benjamin Green. His assignment is to protect the president's daughter, Amy. He soon learns that a man who goes by the name "Dagger" seeks to kill the president while wearing George Washington's Coat, which has gone missing. The piece de resistance is that the garment makes the wearer invincible. Due to their strong dislike of each other and mutual love of competition, Lincoln and Ben are each determined to solve the mystery first. Along the way, readers meet Amy, an engaging, intelligent, and witty charcter who befriends both sleuths. Lincoln's voice remains clear and consistent; he is sarcastic, quick-witted, and ingenious. Bradley cleverly weaves adventure and history throughout this fast-paced book. A must read for mystery fans, including reluctant readers.-Megan McGinnis, Sachem Public Library, Holbrook, NY (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | Booklist (November 15, 2013 (Vol. 110, No. 6)) Grades 4-6. There’s a rat in the White House—a rat who wants to kill the president. Double Vision: Code Name 711, the second installment in Bradley’s planned trilogy, finds 12-year-old secret-agent Linc Baker again working with Pandora, a top-secret government spy agency—this time in Washington, D.C. Fans of Double Vision (2012) will recall that Linc is an accidental agent, a dead ringer for official spy-kid Ben Green, who is a straight arrow and Linc’s nemesis. The junior agents must infiltrate the oldest spy organization in America; recover the coat of George Washington that is thought to make the wearer invincible; and save the president from an assassination attempt. Linc quickly ditches Ben and teams up with First Daughter Amy and junior-agent gadget-master Henry to try and crack the spy code and track down the coat. This is a hilarious caper, featuring plenty of nifty gadgets and gross-out scenes, led by an authentic, smart-mouthed hero that fans of the Alex Rider and 39 Clues series will love. | Kirkus Reviews (August 1, 2013) Amateur secret operative Linc Baker is once again tapped for service. After proving himself as more than just a double for junior secret agent Benjamin Green, espionage agency Pandora once again calls on Linc, part-time amateur spy and full-time smart aleck, for help (Double Vision, 2012). This time, the stakes are even higher. Following a series of internal threats against the president and her family, Pandora springs into action, determined to flush out the mole and find the newest Dangerous Double--that of George Washington's coat. (Improbably, Dangerous Doubles are duplicates of real-world items endowed with special properties.) With the assistance of the president's daughter, Amy, Linc begins investigating the Culper Ring, a group of Revolutionary War spies that continues into the present day. In the end, however, Linc's success can be attributed more to his radical skateboarding and his unorthodox style than his secret-agent skills. Improbable plot twists are partially remedied by the sometimes-irreverent and always-enthusiastic Linc. Pacing often lags as the plot is sidelined for a lesson on American history or a walking tour of Washington, D.C. Much like the first installment, this adventure suffers from a lack of originality. However, also as in the previous book, Linc manages to shine, making this worth the read. Marginally better than the first. (Adventure. 8-12) | ||||||||||||
71 | TW/KR | -Fic- | Copycat Conundrum (The Misfits) | Misfits | 2 | Yee, Lisa | 2026 | Upper Elementary | 3-6 | Grades 4-7 | Ages 8-12 | 3 | Horn Book Magazine (March/April, 2025) In the first installment of this series (A Royal Conundrum, rev. 1/24), twelve-year-old Olive Cobin Zang arrived at the Reforming Arts School near San Francisco. Eventually, the lonely homebody found her place as part of a diverse group of friends who dubbed themselves the Misfits. Now, the Misfits -- undercover operatives for the secret agency NOCK -- are swept into a new mystery. Their classmate Zeke has been receiving threatening messages, and seemingly random events -- e.g., earthquakes, a runaway cable car, bank robberies, the discovery of an old bunker under the school -- turn out to be connected. Santat's black-and-white illustrations (final art not seen) lend a visual element to Yee's conversational prose. Despite its high-tech gadgetry, this is an old-fashioned adventure tale with a pleasingly complicated mystery and a tremendously likable cast of sleuths (and even some Miss Marple allusions). As this installment concludes, Olive runs off to join her friends on a new escapade. Back matter includes agent and gadget profiles. Dean Schneider March/April 2025 p.89 | Booklist (December 1, 2024 (Vol. 121, No. 7)) Grades 4-7. Readers who enjoy art-heist mysteries will find an unusual one in Yee’s latest middle-grade novel. Yee, whose Maizy Chen’s Last Chance (2022) was a Newbery Honor Book, began The Misfits series earlier this year with the publication of A Royal Conundrum (2024), a mystery-action thriller in which an unlikely group of five somewhat awkward but tech-savvy classmates learn that their arts-themed boarding school, located on an island in San Francisco Bay, actually trains teams of its students to become highly skilled crime-fighting units. Now, responding to a plea from another student, Olive Zang rounds up her group, the Misfits, for an investigation that takes them into San Francisco, where strong but highly localized earthquakes are creating chaotic diversions from thefts taking place nearby. Santat’s occasionally abstract illustrations appear at intervals and create a rather dark, menacing atmosphere, which is offset by the more hopeful tone of Olive’s first-person narrative. The pace quickens and tension mounts as the story unfolds, with memorable action scenes as well as some surprising revelations and plot twists along the way. | Kirkus Reviews (November 15, 2024) A squad of young crime fighters sniff out art thieves and hidden treasure in this second round of high-tech, pastry-fueled sleuthing. Challenges practically drop into the laps of Olive Cobin Zang and her four companion Misfits, even as a string of ominous messages a worried classmate receives lead to a tangle of mysteries. They involve old tales of a lost ship filled with gold and valuable Chinese artifacts, oddly localized earthquakes linked to bank and other heists, and hints that treasures in a San Francisco art museum are being surreptitiously switched out for fakes. In an urgently paced plot delivered with tongue-in-cheek twists aplenty, Yee sends her eager investigators scurrying into crime scenes and hidden rooms, with occasional quick breaks to plan or compare notes over treats from the Butter Bakery. A climactic Mission: Impossible–style museum break-in requires all of Olive’s unusual acrobatics skills. The classic denouement she delivers dressed (appropriately) as Miss Marple leads to a brief high-speed chase as a culprit tries to escape in an Oscar Mayer Wienermobile. Readers are treated to a whirl of revelations and golden discoveries, and throughout they’ll be swept along, both by the breathlessly paced developments and by the individually awkward but collectively unstoppable team leading the racially diverse cast. Final art not seen. Nonstop action, delivered with a wink. (agent profiles, gadget profiles) (Adventure. 8-12) | |||||||||||||
72 | TW/KR | -Fic- | Dogtown | Dogtown | 1 | Applegate, Katherine | 2024 | Upper Elementary | 3-6 | Grades 3-6 | Ages 8-12 | Ages 8-12 | Gr 4-6 | 5 | School Library Journal starred (August 1, 2023) Gr 4-6-Welcome to Dogtown, a shelter for regular dogs-and robot dogs (don't ask, just go with it). The shelter's top dog is Chance, a congenial and introspective pooch, who like all the residents, longs to reunite with her family. But as Chance understands, "Hope is a painful business." That anguish, along with her resentment towards robot dogs (they often get adopted before real dogs) fades as Chance spends time with a robot dog she nicknames Metal Head. Animosity gradually evolves into understanding, then friendship as Chance introduces Metal Head to Mouse, a real mouse who lives in the shelter and shares Chance's kibble. The action shifts to adventure when Chance and Mouse escape Dogtown to accompany Metal Head on his quest to rejoin his family. Super short chapters, perhaps suggesting a dog's alleged limited attention span, keep the novel's pace moving briskly toward a climax sure to please animal lovers despite a few sad moments along the way. Chance captivates with insights that are hilarious and wise beyond her age in dog years. She counsels Mouse, "Your heart is a muscle...It grows stronger the more you use it." Thoughtful back matter suggests how children can help shelter dogs. West's grayscale art perfectly captures canine emotion and unbridled energy. VERDICT When Applegate and Choldenko collaborate, readers win.-Marybeth Kozikowski © Copyright 2023. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | Horn Book Magazine (November/December, 2023) Three-legged Chance is at the top of the pack at Dogtown -- an animal shelter where she has a glowing reputation among dogs and humans alike. She's known for quickly settling the new "boo-hoo" pups as they adjust to life without their beloved owners, and she charms the managers into letting her cozy up under the staff poker table: "She makes everyone feel like her favorite," says a shelter volunteer. Then, Chance finds herself on an unexpected adventure back in the outside world, alongside Metal Head (a quirky dog that is actually a robot) and her friend Mouse (an actual rodent). While the threesome searches for Metal Head's human family, Chance's protective poise begins to waver -- just like every abandoned boo-hoo in Dogtown, Chance still harbors the painful hope that she might find a missing-dog sign with her own picture on it. Accompanied by friendly, cartoonlike halftone drawings, this canine slice-of-life adventure features a confident, affable narrator with a proclivity for doggy jargon (the cutest dogs at Dogtown get "First Cage" where they can flaunt their "Adopt-me Routine"). Short chapters and Chance's snappy narration keep the pace rolling, but Applegate and Choldenko adeptly make space for gently poignant moments along the way. An accessible, appealing romp that provides a dog's-eye view of the nature of hope, belonging, and found family. Jessica Tackett Macdonald November/December 2023 p.75 | Booklist (September 1, 2023 (Vol. 120, No. 1)) Grades 3-6. The unusual Dogtown shelter provides refuge to both wayward dogs and abandoned robot pups, and there is resentment brewing between the groups. Chance knows he’s lucky to have a good life at the shelter after being injured and abandoned by unscrupulous pet-sitters, but having three legs, he worries that no one will want him, and he’s still hoping to be reunited with his family. Chance can’t understand why Metal Head, a recently discarded robot, refuses to ingratiate himself with potential adopters, preferring to plot a way back to his former owner. The two eventually form an uneasy alliance and, with additional assistance from a resident mouse, escape the confines of the shelter for an outdoor adventure. But their path home will be anything but straightforward. The tension and humor are beautifully balanced in this sympathetic story, and the delightfully distinct voices and memorable characters are enormous fun. Brief chapters set a brisk pace, and charming black-and-white illustrations are incredibly appealing. A sweet spotlight on shelter animals that is as heartwarming as it is entertaining. | |||||||||||
73 | TW/KR | -Fic- | Double vision | Double Vision | 1 | Bradley, F. T | 2013 | Upper Elementary | 3-6 | Ages 8-12 | Gr 5-7 | 4 | School Library Journal (February 1, 2013) Gr 5-7-After a disastrous class field trip to a farm where he releases all the chickens, 12-year-old Lincoln Baker is suspended indefinitely from Lompoc Middle School. On top of that, his folks are being sued for "chicken farm damages." A secret government organization shows up at his home offering a chance to make all his troubles disappear. It turns out that Linc is an exact double for their top kid agent, who has gone missing, and all Linc has to do to make everything right is fill in for him at a vital exchange. The story moves quickly from there with some witty prose and enjoyable characters. While spy novels ask readers to suspend disbelief, this plot contains more than the usual preposterous situations and unlikely scenarios. Linc is immediately thrown into danger with minimal preparation and training. The adult agents offer very little guidance and generally treat him with borderline disdain. He is sent from his home in California to Paris unsupervised with zero backup, and everyone is upset when the exchange fails. Despite this, Linc's persistence and ability to cause chaos eventually win the day and all's well that ends well. This thriller is reminiscent of a Disney Channel take on the kid superspy, in which the adults are basically nonentities and the children win through sheer luck or fantastic happenstance.-Erik Knapp, Davis Library, Plano, TX (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | Horn Book Magazine (November/December, 2012) Sixth-grader Linc has a particular gift for causing trouble on class field trips, and his latest adventure -- freeing the �inmates� of a chicken farm -- results in expulsion. Meanwhile, government agents discover that he bears an almost perfect resemblance to Benjamin Green, a junior secret agent who has gone missing, and enlist him as Ben�s double. At boot camp Linc meets tech guru Henry, who quickly figures out that he isn�t the real Ben but likes him all the better for it. With Henry�s equipment and training, Linc flies to Paris, where he gets caught up in a swirl of events leading from landmark to landmark in search of Ben and then a mysterious painting, working with a French girl to crack codes and follow clues. Bradley gives Linc a great voice, with a good heart, some self-awareness, and a funny style: �I should probably mention right now that I qualify for the Guinness Book of World Records as the slowest, most out-of-shape twelve-year-old in history.� It�s entertaining if not deep, with a fast pace, snappy narration, and an epilogue that promises a new adventure. susan dove lempke | Kirkus Reviews (September 15, 2012) A middle school troublemaker turns secret agent. After a disastrous field trip, Linc Baker is offered an opportunity to make things right for himself and his family. In order to make their legal problems disappear, Linc must travel halfway around the world and impersonate a look-alike secret agent. Unfortunately, the agent he has to pretend to be is none other than Benjamin Green, junior operative extraordinaire. Almost from the moment his plane touches down in Paris, everything becomes a lot more complicated. Doppelgangers abound in the form of double agents and a set of secret, and possibly evil, Leonardo da Vinci paintings. If Linc can just see past his double vision, he might be able to protect his family from financial ruin and save the world along the way. Focusing as much on what it claims not to be (a rehash of Percy Jackson or Spider-Man) as what it is (a watered-down Alex Rider), this first installment in what hints to be a new series suffers from a lack of originality, not to mention believability. Its sole strength is Linc. His self-professed laziness and bumbling, good-natured manner might be enough to keep this story fresh. Strong character. Weak premise. (Adventure. 8-12) | |||||||||||||
74 | TW/KR | -Fic- | Dream | Wish Duology (Farrar, Straus and Giroux) | 2 | O'Connor, Barbara | 2026 | Upper Elementary | 3-6 | Grades 4-7 | Ages 9-12 | Gr 4-6 | 4 | School Library Journal (August 1, 2025) Gr 4-6-The strength of unexpected friendship and the hopefulness of a dream is explored in this middle grade novel. Eleven-year-old Idalee Lovett comes from a long line of musicians, and all she wants is to become a country music songwriter. When the local radio station hosts a songwriting contest, she begins to dream about what it might feel like to win; but as she presses forward, the fear of failure creeps in, leading her to make an out-of-character decision regarding the contest. As the award announcement date approaches, Idalee's anxiety increases, resulting in an admission to her mother of what she has done. Although this brings her some relief, she continues to agonize over the possible ramifications of her actions. When the contest results in an unexpected outcome, Idalee learns about the power of friendship and honesty. The ragtag group of characters are endearing, adding to the general warmth of the story. Idalee's anger at her situation is somewhat glossed over, making parts of the story feel a bit inauthentic; however, readers familiar with O'Connor's Wish will enjoy the appearance of some familiar faces. Main characters are cued white. VERDICT A tender story of the strength of friendship and the power of a dream, this page-turner captures the heart.-Misty Schattle © Copyright 2025. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | Horn Book Magazine (September/October, 2025) O'Connor takes readers back to Colby, North Carolina, in this standalone companion to Wish (rev. 11/16). Eleven-year-old Idalee Lovett, descended from a long line of musicians, stars here. An aspiring country songwriter, Idalee lives with her mother in their family home, now converted into a boardinghouse whose lodgers include several distinct and well-developed secondary characters. When Joey's All-American BBQ Shack announces a song-writing contest, with the winning song to be performed on the radio by a rising country singer, Idalee is all in. She figures her chances of winning would be better if she could purchase a guitar. Without the funds to do so, Idalee enlists Charlie and Howard (who will be familiar to readers of Wish) as well as temporary boarder Odell to find her grandfather's bounty, rumored to be hidden somewhere in her home. The treasure turns out to be a collection of never-published, and terrific, country songs, which fill Idalee with self-doubt about her own skills and present her with a moral dilemma: perhaps she could just enter one of these gems. But such a move would belie her song, "Dream," in which Idalee eschews gold and riches for life's everyday pleasures. In a leisurely narrative that reflects the small-town atmosphere of Colby, O'Connor gives readers much to ponder. Betty Carter September/October 2025 p.71 | Booklist (July 2025 (Vol. 121, No. 21)) Grades 4-7. Readers who enjoyed Charlie’s story in Barbara O’Connor’s Wish (2016) will enjoy this return to her small town in North Carolina, narrated by Charlie’s classmate Idalee, whose mother hopes for stardom as a country singer. Mama departs with her band for a road trip that might make her famous. Meanwhile, Idalee is staying with neighbors and hoping to stay out of trouble. Like her grandfather, Idalee writes songs. When a radio station sponsors a songwriting contest, her friends urge her to submit some of her songs. Idalee longs to win the cash prize, which will buy her a new guitar, but after she uses a ruse to gain an advantage, her moral compass responds with realistic guilt and makes her dreams seem far beyond her reach. In this stand-alone book that features several returning characters and a familiar setting, the strongest asset is O’Connor’s ability to let Idalee tell her story in her own, distinctive voice, while creating secondary characters who are interesting and equally true to life. An involving chapter book, set in the Blue Ridge Mountains. | ||||||||||||
75 | TW/KR | -Fic- | El Nino | Ryan, Pam Munoz | 2025 | Upper Elementary | 3-6 | Grades 4-6 | Ages 8-13 | Ages 8-12 | Gr 3-7 | 6 | School Library Journal Xpress starred (May 30, 2025) Gr 3-7-This is a stirring and emotionally rich story that dives deep into grief, healing, and the powerful connection between memory and the sea. The story follows Kai Sosa, a young swimmer burdened by the emotional weight of his family's legacy, and unresolved feelings when it comes to the loss of his sister, Cali. As he pushes forward, trying to stay focused on competition and performance, Kai's dreams and visions begin to pull him into something deeper-a mystical world where love and sorrow intertwine. Ryan's storytelling is beautifully atmospheric, layering magical realism with very real grief and longing; vivid descriptions connect readers to what Kai goes through. The ocean becomes both mystery and metaphor, a space where Kai begins to unravel not only the secrets of the past but also the emotions he's tried to keep buried. As Kai connects with an otherworldly sea creature and discovers pieces of Cali's past, the novel shines, connecting themes of the heart and showing us how it is to go through a journey to find meaning. El Niño is more than a coming-of-age story, it's a tribute to the unspoken bonds that remain after loss, and a moving reminder that sometimes, letting go is the bravest act of love. VERDICT Emotionally powerful and quietly magical, this is a story that lingers and one that readers will find themselves drawn to from the start.-Aurora Dominguez © Copyright 2025. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | Horn Book Magazine (July/August, 2025) Spanish ed. 978-1-5461-7647-3 $8.99 Thirteen-year-old Kai is anxious to continue the family legacy on his new elite swim team. Since his superstar older sister, Cali, disappeared while surfing two years before, swimming has felt bittersweet. Authorities have moved on from the search, but Kai receives signs that Cali is still out there: a dolphin with unique markings that the two of them had spotted together visits when he surfs, and Kai even hears Cali call out to him from their backyard beach in the middle of the night. When Kai discovers his sister's favorite book about an ancient, underwater Realm, the mythical sunken Island of California, ruled by Queen Califia (for whom Cali is named), he becomes convinced that's where she has gone. The novel is divided into four sections -- Above, Below, Between, Beyond -- and excerpts from the mythology book are interspersed, mirroring the plot's blend of fantasy and realism. Kai tries to keep his grief distant, but it permeates his life, both with his newfound obsession with mythology and with more earthly concerns such as awkward interactions with peers addressing his loss and the worrying drop in his swimming performance. Whimsical pencil-style digital drawings bring the elaborate Realm to life in a way that feels cathartic, and for anyone who has experienced the call of the water, this book is a thoughtful exploration of the wonders of the ocean -- real, imagined, and unexplained. Monica de los Reyes July/August 2025 p.104 | Booklist (April 1, 2025 (Vol. 121, No. 15)) Grades 4-6. Kai Sosa still grieves for his older sister, Cali, who disappeared while surfing two years ago. Popular and a swimming phenom, Cali made a mark on the world around her, and Kai struggles to shoulder the weight of stepping into her place on the elite Aquarius swim team. Nevertheless, he’s determined to succeed, largely because he knows Cali believed in his ability. Ryan blurs the finality of Cali’s presumed death by blending reality with myth and magic. Harnessing elements of the legendary, gold-encrusted island of California and the myth of the island of Amazons, Ryan fashions a secondary tale of an underwater kingdom inhabited by merpeople (here called mermaliens). This original myth is threaded through the story via passages from a book of folklore that Cali loved, as well as by Ryan’s deliberate bleeding of it into the main narrative. No clear answers are delivered to Kai or the reader, but touchstones within the mermalien story help Kai move forward from his sadness. An original exploration of grief that casts the difficult emotions it brings as precious treasure.HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Recently honored with the Children's Literature Legacy Award, Ryan has clout with readers old and young. | |||||||||||||
76 | TW/KR | -Fic- | Eva Evergreen, semi-magical witch | Eva Evergreen | 1 | Abe, Julie | 2020 | Upper Elementary | 3-6 | Grades 4-7 | Ages 8-12 | Ages 8-12 | Gr 3-7 | 4 | School Library Journal (July 1, 2020) Gr 3-7-Fans of Kiki's Delivery Service will feel right at home in this middle grade fantasy set in Rivelle Realm, where magic is dwindling. Magical late bloomer Eva must complete her first independent mission if she wants to become a witch before her 13th birthday. Not completing the quest comes at a horrible cost-being forever stripped of the little magic she does possess. Eva has a loving family with a magical mother and nonmagical father, yet she cannot help comparing herself to her high-achieving mother, and fears she will never become a successful witch. Eva has a magical condition that causes her to feel physically drained each time she practices, although she knows practice will make her stronger. Her quest leads her to coastal Auteri, where she faces skepticism from community leaders, garners the support of a town sponsor, makes a frenemy-turned-friend, and establishes lasting relationships with small business owners as she practices her magical specialty: repair work. Eva stretches her abilities and struggles to find her footing as the sole local witch while making small inroads with her own practice. Her frequent, rapid fluctuations in confidence level, while mirroring the human experience, make for an odd reading experience, along with a plot that doesn't arc so much as build and then meander. Eva's ultimate solution to save the town appears spontaneously without narrative development. VERDICT Despite its occasional storyline waffling, this middle grade fantasy is worthwhile. Memorable characters accompany strong messages of believing in yourself, working hard, and choosing who you love. A novel well worth the read. Recommended for fiction collections.-Lauren Younger, Univ. of Dallas Lib. © Copyright 2020. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | Booklist (August 2020 (Online)) Grades 4-7. Despite being the daughter of one of the land’s most powerful witches, Eva has barely inherited any magic herself. Determined to prove herself worthy, she sets out on her all-important novice quest, for which she must find a town and improve its residents’ lives. If she fails, what little magic she possesses will be lost. After landing in a beautiful seaside town, Eva gradually finds her place there, but the residents are nervous about a mysterious oncoming magical storm, and Eva realizes that in order to pass her test, she’ll have to summon her meager magic and protect her new home before time runs out. Abe’s marvelously magical world strikes an excellent balance between the familiar and the whimsical, and a Japanese influence is clear in the descriptive names and foods. The action doesn’t heat up until the final third of the book, but the slower pacing allows for wonderful world building and realistic bonds to form between the characters. A satisfying conclusion leaves room for further adventure. | Kirkus Reviews starred (May 15, 2020) Eva must discover her own strength on a quest to become an official witch. Eva Evergreen has just turned 12 and is ready for the quest she must undertake in order to gain the rank of Novice Witch. Unfortunately, she only has a smidgen of magic, and casting spells isn’t easy for her. When Eva’s quest takes her to the small coastal town of Auteri, she struggles to convince the townspeople that she is capable of helping them. Eva sets up a “semi-magical” repair shop and does little fixes around town. Slowly, she begins to make friends and earn the trust of Auteri, but the Culling, a mysterious, cursed weather phenomenon, threatens to destroy everything she’s worked toward. Abe has penned a spectacular, whimsical coming-of-age fantasy, with magic, exciting adventure, and even an adorable magical pet, a mischievous flamefox she names Ember. Eva’s quest challenges her to fight expectations and doubt and to find her voice and power. Abe creates a dazzling, magical world with well-developed characters, relationships, and challenges. The epilogue leaves readers on a cliffhanger, nicely setting up a sequel. There is a hint of Japanese influence throughout, seen in the names of towns and people, like Okayama or Isao, and foods, like yuzu. Eva has straight, black hair and brown eyes, and she tans in the sun. Bewitching—a must-read for fantasy lovers. (Fantasy. 8-12) | |||||||||||
77 | TW/KR | -Fic- | Ferris | DiCamillo, Kate | 2025 | Upper Elementary | 3-6 | Grades 3-7 | Ages 8-12 | Ages 8-12 | Gr 3-7 | 5 | School Library Journal (February 1, 2024) Gr 3-7-"Every story is a love story." Rising fifth grader Ferris hears this wisdom from her grandmother, Charisse, and through this lens begins to notice all the ways in which the actions of her community, however bizarre they might seem at first glance, are unspoken declarations of love. There's the ghost that appears to Charisse, who wants the family to light a chandelier to reunite her with her lost love. There's Ferris's friend Billy Jackson, whose love for his mother who died in childbirth lives on through the music he plays. There's Ferris's uncle Ted and his wife Shirley, who are on the outs after he quits his job to paint a history of the world. And of course Ferris's sister Pinky, who wants to be an outlaw and doesn't seem to love anybody, though Ferris realizes later this isn't true. DiCamillo's latest work is a sweet and heartfelt effort, though it is lacking the author's typical fully fleshed-out characters. They are largely defined by their quirks, and their actions begin to feel repetitive and do not propel the story forward. For instance, it seems like Billy's sole function for much of the story is to play "Mysterious Barricades" on the piano in the background. It feels more like a three-dimensional painting than a story; each character has a role and a place, and readers are invited to look at the whole but static picture to examine the idea of love. VERDICT While dialogue shows the author's characteristic charm, the story itself is lacking a strong narrative voice and drive. Purchase where DiCamillo's other titles circulate well.-Lindsay Loup © Copyright 2024. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | Horn Book Magazine (January/February, 2024) Returning to her literary roots in Florida (see: Because of Winn-Dixie, rev. 7/00; Raymie Nightingale, rev. 3/16), DiCamillo again explores bonds of family, friends, and community. Ferris Winkey finds the summer before fifth grade a puzzling one. Much turbulence surrounds her immediate family, her best friend, and some townspeople: her beloved grandmother, Clarisse, sees a ghost; her uncle leaves his wife and takes up residence in the Winkey basement; her younger sister aspires to be a famous outlaw; and her piano prodigy best friend plays "Mysterious Barricades" exclusively and repeatedly. Thanks to her fourth-grade teacher, who now cries constantly, Ferris has the words for these characters: formidable, unfathomable, unrepentant, quixotic, and bereft. Foreboding is another word Ferris contemplates as Clarisse's health gradually fails. But having the words to describe people and understanding them is not the same. In a glorious climax in which all the book's characters gather to appease the ghost, Ferris discovers that obstacles between individuals can disappear if they have the courage to believe in, rather than simply define, a word she knew all along: love. The limited third-person narration glimpses other lives but never dwells on them, thus leaving Ferris's honest, pre-adolescent perspective to drive the story line. As Clarisse tells Ferris, "Every good story is a love story." Here, DiCamillo adeptly proves this axiom. Betty Carter January/February 2024 p.93 | Booklist starred (February 1, 2024 (Vol. 120, No. 11)) Grades 3-7. Ten-year-old Ferris (nicknamed as such after being born at the local fairgrounds) is contending with a hectic household. Her beloved live-in grandmother is ailing, and Ferris can’t begin to contemplate a life without her existence. Her uncle has split from her aunt and spends his days holed up in the basement, attempting to paint a history of the world; he’s only managed a single foot so far. She’s feeling distant from her little sister, Pinky, who spends her time terrorizing the town in an attempt to fulfill a dream of becoming an old-timey outlaw. One more thing: her grandma has gotten glimpses of a ghost in her doorway, and the ghost has a specific request that needs satisfying, and it’s up to Ferris to see it through. If it sounds terrifically zany, it certainly is, but it’s also wonderfully grounded in deep familial bonds, a tight-knit community, and the beautiful idea that every relationship is a love story in its own way. The kindly town and its eccentric inhabitants come to life via comical anecdotes and gorgeous descriptions, and it all sets the stage for some truly transcendent moments that will leave readers in a state of wonder, no matter their age. It’s a spectacularly silly and perfectly sincere exploration of what it means to stay tenderhearted in a sometimes challenging world.High-Demand Backstory: It's a DiCamillo! That alone should get patrons lining up. | |||||||||||||
78 | TW/KR | -Fic- | Finally seen | Yang, Kelly | 2024 | Upper Elementary | 3-6 | Grades 4-7 | Ages 8-12 | Ages 8-12 | Gr 3-7 | 5 | School Library Journal Xpress starred (September 29, 2023) Gr 3-7-Arriving in Los Angeles from Beijing after five years away from her parents and little sister Millie, fifth grader Lina Gao has a lot of challenges. First, she found that her parents have been lying about their lives in the U.S.-her microbiologist dad is not a scientist as he claimed in his letters; he is an organic regenerative farmer who works at least 15 hours a day in the field. Her family does not live in a two-story blue house with a white fence, but in a cramped apartment in Los Ramos where she sleeps on a bunk bed. And her mother and little sister make and sell bath bombs on Etsy to repay the extensive back rent they owe from the pandemic. Lina also discovers her parents' green card applications still haven't been filed, after years of waiting. On top of that, Lina has a lot of adjustments at school, including making friends and speaking English. Luckily, she is assigned to work with a special education teacher, Mrs. Ortis, who is a young immigrant from Guatemala. With support from Mrs. Ortis and school librarian Mrs. Hollis, who recommends books that speak to her experience, Lina begins to adjust to her new life. Yang's latest depicts Lina's courage, kindness, and hard work to navigate her first year in the U.S. while building relationships new and old. VERDICT A great novel that depicts the challenges of being a Chinese immigrant in the U.S. while highlighting universally relatable themes of feeling like an outcast for middle schoolers.-Anna Ching-Yu Wong © Copyright 2023. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | Horn Book Magazine (January/February, 2023) This contemporary immigrant tale follows a Beijing girl as she reunites with her parents and younger sister in California after five years of separation. Lina Gao, ten, thinks that her father is a successful microbiologist who owns a big house. -Reality kicks in when the fifth grader discovers that her father is a farm worker, the family lives in a cramped apartment, and her mother sells bath bombs online in hopes of covering the back rent. Yang does a skillful job in portraying Lina's multitude of emotions. There's the sadness of leaving her grandmother behind in a Chinese nursing home and the isolation and loneliness stemming from language barriers. Issues of racism and class come up when her parents struggle to be paid fairly and to get updates on their green card applications, Lina is teased at school, and a graphic novel with an Asian American protagonist is targeted for censorship. The most poignant scenes occur as Lina slowly removes the "invisible thread" that prevents her from freely expressing herself, especially when ESL teacher Mrs. Ortiz tells her that even though immigrants are "burdened with a lot of guilt," it is important to remember that "your dreams matter. You matter. Never forget that." Michelle Lee January/February 2023 p.96 | Booklist starred (December 1, 2022 (Vol. 119, No. 7)) Grades 4-7. Lina was five years old when her parents and two-year-old sister moved from China to America, leaving Lina with her beloved grandmother. For five years, Lina has wondered why she was left behind. Now she is flying to Los Angeles to grow up with her sister and her parents. Confused by the disconnect between her dreams of America and the reality of her family’s poverty, she helps her mother make and sell items in hopes of avoiding eviction from their small apartment. Lina feels guilty about leaving her aging grandmother, and she avoids speaking English at school for fear of ridicule. But after she begins to accept help from others, Lina discovers allies, learns to express her emotions through words and pictures, and even finds the courage to speak up before the school board when a wealthy parent seeks to ban a book by a Chinese American writer. In this involving, realistic chapter book, a likable character overcomes a series of obstacles while forging strong connections with her parents, her sister, and two friends. Yang, the author of Front Desk (2018), writes with a beguiling combination of clarity, simplicity, and immediacy in a new story exploring the practical and emotional challenges of immigration as experienced by children. | |||||||||||||
79 | TW/KR | -Fic- | Finding bear | Gold, Hannah | 2024 | Upper Elementary | 3-6 | Ages 9-13 | 1 | Kirkus Reviews (March 1, 2024) A sequel that rekindles a beautiful friendship. April and her father have left the Arctic Circle and now live in an area that’s “hustling, bustling, and jostling every crowded minute of the day,” where she struggles to adjust. Upon learning that Bear, her polar bear companion from The Last Bear (2021), is in danger, she rushes back to Svalbard. As it turns out, Bear needs her help to save his cub from starvation. To do so, April battles the hazardous Arctic climate and makes rash decisions, disregarding her dad’s concerns for her safety. April’s survival skills are inexpert, and some of her decisions are dangerous, but she bravely endures life-or-death circumstances. Ultimately, she succeeds in rescuing the cub, whom she names Peanut, and rediscovering her Arctic home in Longyearbyen. Bear provides April with actual bear hugs and becomes a sounding board for her struggles outside the Arctic. April, who reads white, resonates with animals more than her human peers. The narrative sensitively addresses climate change, wildlife biology, and related subjects through informative content that’s woven into the dialogue. April’s father is an absent afterthought, and April navigates the tundra independently. Still, her dad and his girlfriend make significant life changes to support her happiness. While some elements are far-fetched, the story validates youth activism as a worthy pursuit. Pinfold’s haunting illustrations add richness to the atmosphere. An empowering, optimistic read for animal lovers and environmentally savvy tweens. (map, resources and further reading) (Adventure. 9-13) | ||||||||||||||||||
80 | TW/KR | -Fic- | Flying through water | Wolo, Mamle | 2024 | Upper Elementary | 3-6 | Grades 5-8 | Ages 10-14 | Gr 3-7 | 4 | School Library Journal Xpress starred (May 17, 2024) Gr 3-7-This gripping tale follows Sena, a teenager in Ghana, through three equally compelling adventures. First, Sena transports readers into everyday life in a Ghanaian village, balancing school and work on the family farm with excursions to the river, where his Togbe (grandfather) teaches him family stories and traditional fishing techniques. This section illuminates how the artificial creation of Volta Lake and the Akosombo Dam to provide electricity in cities devastates rural communities. Sena also learns about Mami Wata, a goddess who saved Togbe in childhood. While Togbe is a strong, loving mentor, the boys at school cluster around the flashy but disreputable gangster, Jack of Diamonds, who promises a fast route out of rural poverty. Second, after a family tragedy, Sena decides that he can save his family by finding work through Jack of Diamonds. He ends up a victim of child trafficking when he becomes a fisher boy on Lake Volta. This section is an intense and unsentimental portrayal of modern slavery. Third, Sena's perilous escape leads to a restorative island adventure where his Togbe's teaching becomes key to the boy's survival. The mystery of Mami Wata is also revealed in a manner that is compelling and realistic. The novel makes no false promises, and readers are left with an urgent hope that Sena will be able to complete his journey home and fulfill his new destiny as a guardian of the environment. VERDICT Searing and eye-opening, readers will devour Sena's story in a day.-Katherine Magyarody © Copyright 2024. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | Horn Book Magazine (July/August, 2024) Seven years ago, Sena's mother moved their family from a big city -- and an abusive husband -- to Tovime, a remote village in Ghana, where Sena's grandfather, Togbe, resides. A positive male presence, Togbe works the land to provide for the family, with Sena helping as much as possible in between his studies. Togbe educates, encourages, and entertains Sena through stories about his childhood, teaching his grandson about the geography and history of the land; one memorable tale concerns the time he was saved from the river by Mami Wata -- a water goddess who "only comes to the rescue of good people." While rich in love and support, the family struggles financially, and when tragedy strikes, Sena feels it is up to him to provide for his mother and two younger siblings. An immediate solution seems to present itself in a charismatic visitor who promises riches to those who come to work for him. Accepting the offer, Sena finds himself in a situation more dire than ever before, and it will take everything in him to survive -- and possibly the divine intervention of Mami Wata herself. Intertwining the historical tradition of West African storytelling with the very present issues of environmental injustice and child trafficking, Wolo brings a vivid and intense narrative to life. Eboni Njoku July/August 2024 p.145 | Booklist (April 15, 2024 (Vol. 120, No. 16)) Grades 5-8. Wolo’s (The Kaya Girl, 2022) latest novel is divided into three parts. In the first, readers meet 14-year-old Sena, who lives with his farming family in the village of Tovine in Ghana. The second segment recounts his life as a fisher boy kidnapped by human traffickers, while the third shares his life as a castaway. The pace of part one is, for the most part, leisurely as it examines his ordinary daily life, highlighted by his relationship with his beloved grandfather. When the man dies, Sena’s life is turned upside down, and he agrees to become a fisher boy, bound to a master for four years. But Sena discovers too late how hideous that life on the banks of the vast, remote Lake Volta will be. The unspeakably cruel master is interested in only one thing: the amount of fish Sena and the other trafficked boys can catch. Sena determines to escape, and part three records the results. While it requires a willing suspension of disbelief, Wolo’s novel is agreeable and always engaging. Readers will enjoy it. | ||||||||||||||
81 | TW/KR | -Fic- | Gabby Torres gets a billion followers | Gabby Torres | 1 | Dominguez, Angela | 2025 | Upper Elementary | 3-6 | Grades 1-4 | Ages 7-9 | Ages 6-9 | Gr 3-5 | 5 | School Library Journal (November 1, 2024) Gr 3-5-After a year of pleading, nine-year-old Gabby Torres is finally invited to join the Sea Musketeers, an ocean conservation club. She comes up with a great idea: make a club social media account. Everyone loves it and decides Gabby will be in charge, but Gabby's parents feel otherwise. Gabby and her best friends, Prya and Kat, create a compelling slide show to convince them to allow it. Her parents agree but with rules: post once a week, only post with mom, and never go online alone without supervision! Excitement builds as the club's posts begin to get comments. Unfortunately, Gabby peeks and sees a negative comment which leads to her making many bad choices trying to get to the bottom of who the anonymous poster was, even accusing her best friends and her teacher. When phone calls from school come in, Gabby is in deep trouble. Her parents ground her, and she can no longer manage the account. This book's narrative creates opportunities for caretakers to have candid conversations with young readers about internet usage, potential dangers, and safe practices. Brightly colored illustrations amid a mix of panel sizes and block text blend together to form this timely, realistic story. VERDICT A strong entry in the family and friends graphic novel genre. Give this to fans of Raina Telgemeier, Shannon Hale, Varian Johnson, and Nathan Fairbairn.-Elisabeth LeBris © Copyright 2024. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | Horn Book Magazine (March/April, 2025) Exuberant nine-year-old Gabby Torres volunteers to start a social media account for her ocean-conservation club, the Sea Musketeers, to prove her maturity to its older members. Though her parents are initially wary, they ultimately agree to let her run the account under their strict supervision and with limited access. Gabby is excited to learn about hashtags, promote the club's mission, and score new followers, but after she receives a rude comment from an anonymous account, she begins to view everyone -- from friends to family members to teachers -- as potential culprits. As her accusations intensify and her desire to identify the commenter drives her to break her parents' rules, Gabby finds that her desperation is alienating those around her and distracting her from her good intentions. Dominguez has created an instantly endearing protagonist in Gabby: though she still has growth to undergo, her zeal feels wholly natural in a preteen whose enthusiasm for a cause and desire for acceptance override her common sense. Gabby's close relationship with her Mexican American family provides an affectionate, grounding presence. While the story is not without its messages, it's also charmingly funny. Vignette illustrations and/or comics panels on every page depict Gabby's imaginative perception of the world (e.g., she assumes "Miss Information" is a woman who spreads fabrications online). Gabby's future exploits are sure to have followers -- though maybe not quite a billion. Emma Shacochis March/April 2025 p.67 | Booklist (May 1, 2025 (Online)) Grades 1-4. In this charming book that combines comics and prose, 9-year-old Gabby experiences existing on the internet for a brief moment. She's in a club focused on ocean conservation with some pals, including Stella Diaz from Dominguez's popular book series, and shares an idea to launch a social media account to raise awareness. When she gets her first negative comment, she becomes fixated on the identity of the offender. The big takeaway from this story is that social media isn't always easy or safe to navigate for kids or adults, and getting too wrapped up in it can have harmful impacts on your daily life. Gabby ends up pushing away her close friends, people she logically knows would never say or do something to hurt her on purpose, all because she stumbled upon one comment among all the positive ones that wasn't equally supportive. The cartoons are simple but effective, presented in a format similar to the Wimpy Kid books but with more color and often in traditional comic frames. The crossover with Stella Diaz is cute, and it's a great kick-off of a brand new series. | |||||||||||
82 | TW/KR | -Fic- | Green thumbs-up! | Friendship Garden | 1 | Meyerhoff, Jenny | 2015 | Lower Elementary | K-3 | Grades 2-4 | Ages 7-9 | Ages 7-10 | Gr 2-4 | 5 | School Library Journal (May 1, 2015) Gr 2-4-When Anna moves into a new town, she has a hard time making friends. When a group project for school ends up helping her hit it off with two other people, things start to look up for Anna. Together, the trio comes upon a community garden. The garden looks more like a plant junkyard. The friends get an idea to start a kids garden club, but the president of the garden says they need an adult to supervise. Can they persuade an adult to help them out? This well-written book adeptly ties the multiple, but simple subplots together. The characters are likable and fairly well developed. The author's use of clever chapter headings and descriptive words draw readers easily into Anna's world. VERDICT Similar to Megan McDonalds's "Judy Moody" series (Candlewick) and Laurie Friedman's "Mallory" books (Lerner), this book will appeal to readers who enjoy humorous realistic fiction.-Kira Moody, Whitmore Public Library, Salt Lake City, UT © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | Booklist (July 2015 (Vol. 111, No. 21)) Grades 2-4. Anna Fincher is a third-grader who has been transplanted from sunny Rosendale, New York, to gray Chicago after her mother accepts a new job in the city. She misses the true-blue friends she was forced to leave behind, as well as the garden she used to tend. A class assignment and a run-down urban allotment provide Anna with the opportunity to address both of these needs. This first installment in the Friendship Garden series has the right amount of middle-grade social concern, mixed with serendipitous problem solving, to provide an enjoyable reading experience. The loss of friends and how to replace them is a universal worry, and readers will empathize with Anna’s plight. The grown-ups in the book are peripheral enough that Anna and her friends can make some well-meaning blunders, yet close enough to ensure that nothing goes terribly awry. The illustrations complement the text and give definition to characters, who are a bit standard at first but have plenty of room to grow. | Kirkus Reviews (June 15, 2015) A community garden grows new friendships. Starting third grade in a new school in urban Chicago, Anna misses her old life. Outside her school window there used to be green; now her view is gray. Her mother used to make family meals with fresh vegetables from their garden; now she's cooking professionally, and it's her father who makes dinner, using canned vegetables from the store. Once part of a trio of best friends, she can't see anyone in her new class who looks welcoming. But when a school assignment matches her up with Kaya, whose abuela is an enthusiastic gardener, and Reed, who loves to dig in the dirt, they bond over the idea of forming a gardening club. Their need for an adult sponsor adds some suspense, but this hurdle is easily overcome. The appearance of garden-destroying raccoons adds humor. This comfortable school-and-friendship story is firmly set in the present day; Anna's mother joins the family via computer video chat at dinner. The 8-year-old has believable worries and appropriate hesitations as she negotiates these big changes and the beginning stages of new friendships. The finished book will include black-and-white illustrations, not seen. The Friendship Garden series will continue with a companion book, Pumpkin Spice (2015). Accessible and familiar, this series opener should appeal to relatively new readers of chapter books. (Fiction. 7-9) | |||||||||||
83 | TW/KR | -Fic- | Growing home | Ferry, Beth | 2025 | Lower Elementary | K-3 | Grades 1-4 | Ages 6-9 | Ages 6-9 | Gr 2-5 | 4 | School Library Journal Xpress starred (July 25, 2025) Gr 2-5-A grumpy fish. An optimistic houseplant. An old house full of oddities. In this cozy, character-driven chapter book, Ivy the ivy and Toasty the fish form an unlikely alliance with a book-loving spider and other curious creatures who enter the home of Jillian Tupper, a budding botanist, and her antique-dealer parents. Told in a warm and engaging narrative, the story gently explores themes of belonging, patience, and the quiet magic of being seen. Ferry's prose is contemplative and whimsical, with a narrative voice that occasionally breaks the fourth wall with adroit drollness. Ivy's naive narcissism and Toasty's cheese puff obsession-along with the delightfully distinct personalities of the supporting cast-add depth, humor, and heart. Though the pace is unhurried, the emotional beats land well, and the evolving friendships are delicately rendered. The Fans' grayscale illustrations are as atmospheric as ever, infusing elements of the home with texture and charm. Most of the human characters are depicted with paper-white skin. While the plot builds to an exciting climax, the gentle pacing and reassuring narration maintain a cozy, comforting tone throughout. VERDICT A meditative, charming delight for readers who appreciate stories of found family and quiet transformation. A solid purchase for elementary fiction collections.-Rose Garrett © Copyright 2025. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | Booklist (May 1, 2025 (Vol. 121, No. 17)) Grades 1-4. Toasty the goldfish lives a luxurious life, but he’s still jealous of a nearby houseplant, Ivy. He can’t understand why their child, Jillian Tupper, would prefer the unexciting potted plant to his swishy self, but Toasty and Ivy have formed a somewhat begrudging bond (it helps that Ivy is magically able to pilfer cheese puffs for Toasty). The delicate détente is upset when Jillian brings home a second houseplant, and the appearance of a chirpy spider with a broken leg does nothing to diffuse the tension. When a mysterious man threatens the Tupper residence, the disparate roommates pull together to protect the homestead and discover they might make the perfect team. The utterly charming tale is populated by memorable, messy characters, and it’s a pleasure to watch them grow from jealous roommates to dear friends as they each gain wisdom and empathy. Touches of magic and a droll narrative style add enjoyment, and the occasional black-and-white illustrations are adorable accompaniments. A splendidly silly story that will have readers looking at friendship (and houseplants) in a new way. | Kirkus Reviews (March 15, 2025) An assortment of unusual characters form friendships and help each other become their best selves. Mr. and Mrs. Tupper, who live at Number 3 Ramshorn Drive, are antiquarians. Their daughter, Jillian, loves and cares for a plant named Ivy, who has “three speckles on each leaf and three letters in her name.” Toasty, the grumpy goldfish, lives in an octagonal tank and wishes he were Jillian’s favorite; when Arthur the spider arrives inside an antique desk, he brings wisdom and insight. Ollie the violet plant, Louise the bee, and Sunny the canary each arrive with their own quirks and problems to solve. Each character has a distinct personality and perspective; sometimes they clash, but more often they learn to empathize, see each other’s points of view, and work to help one another. They also help the Tupper family with bills and a burglar. The Fan brothers’ soft-edged, old-fashioned, black-and-white illustrations depict Toasty and Arthur with tiny hats; Ivy and Ollie have facial expressions on their plant pots. The Tuppers have paper-white skin and dark hair. The story comes together like a recipe: Simple ingredients combine, transform, and rise into something wonderful. In its matter-of-fact wisdom, rich vocabulary (often defined within the text), hint of magic, and empathetic nonhuman characters who solve problems in creative ways, this delightful work is reminiscent of Ferris by Kate DiCamillo, Our Friend Hedgehog by Lauren Castillo, and Ivy Lost and Found by Cynthia Lord and Stephanie Graegin. Charming. (Fiction. 6-9) | |||||||||||||
84 | TW/KR | -Fic- | Hannah Sharpe, cartoon detective | Tashjian, Janet | 2023 | Upper Elementary | 3-6 | Grades 4-6 | Ages 8-12 | Gr 3-5 | 3 | School Library Journal Xpress (January 26, 2024) Gr 3-5-Dynamic duo Janet and Jake Tashjian ("My Life as a...") return with a new middle grade series. Hannah is a pro at introductions. She is "eleven years old. [Lives] in Livermore, California. [Is] on the autism spectrum and sometimes [has] problems processing information...[She] likes cowgirls, Pokémon, Disney, and drawing with [her] Pentel markers." In their signature style, Janet writes and Jake illustrates Hannah's story as she sleuths her way to solving a local crime spree while navigating the mire that is human communication. The prose is light, direct, and engaging. Full-page comic sequences break up the chapters while smaller illustrations pepper the text. Heartfelt creators' notes further emphasize the book's clear message that Hannah's experience is not that of everyone who has ASD, representation is vital, and being autistic is not a bad thing! Hannah and her family have light skin; folks around town have various skin tones. Hannah's teacher is queer. Neighbor Mr. Thompson uses a hearing aid. Hannah is a lovable, relatable protagonist, and readers can expect her to return for future adventures. Her story is a fun one and provides some clever lessons on life's grey areas, which are universally frustrating (even if they manifest differently for all of us). VERDICT Recommended as a general purchase.-Taylor Worley © Copyright 2024. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | Booklist (October 1, 2023 (Online)) Grades 4-6. When her teacher, Mrs. Monroe, takes an indefinite leave of absence, white autistic girl Hannah doesn’t think any of the coping skills she’s learned either in school or from her play therapist will help navigate such a big change. On top of that, there’s a mystery of why some of the school’s plants aren’t doing well, plus a string of porch pirate robberies in her neighborhood. Hannah may not be good with social skills, but her pattern recognition might just be what these cases need. Helping her out are her classmates Noah and Gabriella, as well as her drawings of Dusty Pickle. Included are illustrations explaining how Hannah thinks and reacts, minicomics, and an author’s note explaining that her son, the illustrator of this novel, is on the autism spectrum. This is an inclusive, fun addition to the middle-school mystery field, perfect for readers who need a little extra help moving to typical chapter books. | Publishers Weekly (July 24, 2023) An autistic 11-year-old who’s considered the class sleuth practices her investigative knack in this illustrated series starter from mother-son duo the Tashjians (the My Life series). The creator of a comic book series featuring Dusty Pickle-a pickle cowgirl in the Wild West-artist Hannah Sharpe also uses drawing to better understand idioms and decode social interactions. Though she’s not a fan of altered routines, Hannah soon navigates a teacher change and befriends the woman renting her family’s converted garage apartment. And when a string of catalytic converter and porch package thefts occurs in her family’s Northern California neighborhood, she employs her observational skills around the inquiry, noticing patterns that add up to a curveball that Hannah cannot handle alone. Though the concept of the young autistic detective is well-trodden, Hannah’s openhearted voice adds myriad details about her neurodivergent experience (drawn, per an author’s note, from Jake Tashjian’s own life), while comics interstitials-both Dusty Pickle episodes and interpersonal experiences-add humor to the straightforward narrative. Hannah and her family read as white; the broader cast is portrayed with various skin tones. Ages 8-12. (Sept.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved. | ||||||||||||||
85 | TW/KR | -Fic- | Hypergifted | Korman, Gordon | 2026 | Upper Elementary | 3-6 | Grades 4-7 | Ages 9-13 | Gr 3-5 | 3 | School Library Journal Xpress starred (December 12, 2025) Gr 3-5-This stunning middle-grade novel delivers a funny, heartfelt summer adventure told through multiple character perspectives. Twelve-year-old super-genius Noah Youkilis has been accepted into a summer term at the prestigious Wilderton University, but the last thing he wants is to start college early. His best friend, Donovan, is hoping for a summer of total relaxation, but when Wilderton says Noah can bring a companion to school, Donovan's parents immediately sign him up; he soon finds himself working as a camp counselor for professors' kids instead of relaxing at home. The story unfolds in alternating chapters from several viewpoints, giving readers a clear sense of each character's priorities. Multiple plotlines run at once, including Noah's ambitious AI project, Donovan's growing friendship with his fellow counselor Raina, two frat boys chasing an unforgettable summer, and a missing pig mascot. Korman also highlights the complementary traits that make Noah and Donovan such strong friends: Noah's academic brilliance paired with Donovan's street smarts, with each boy relying on and admiring the other. Even with so much happening, the narrative remains easy to follow because the structure makes the story rich rather than complicated, and every thread builds toward a satisfying conclusion. Korman's writing style is thoroughly engaging and speaks directly to middle-grade readers with its sharp dialogue, brisk pacing, and situations that feel both over the top and completely relatable. VERDICT Korman's latest adventure is must-purchase for all middle-grade collections.-Katherine Rao © Copyright 2026. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | Booklist (December 1, 2025 (Vol. 122, No. 7)) Grades 4-7. Korman’s Gifted series began with Ungifted (2012), in which prankster Donovan Curtis did “colossal damage” to the gym on his first day of middle school, after which he ended up in the superintendent’s office and was mistakenly assigned to the gifted program. Meanwhile, his friend Noah, an actual genius, was mysteriously assigned to ordinary classes. In the latest volume, Noah is offered a full scholarship at a fine university, and the dean suggests he come for the summer session in order to adjust. Noah is willing, but only if Donovan will be his summer roommate. Donovan reluctantly agrees, but they become entangled in a mystery almost immediately: Porquette, the university’s resident pig/mascot, is missing, and the students and alumni are very upset. So are Noah and Donovan—mainly because she’s living in their bathtub. Even before the novel’s end, it’s clear Donovan has skills only Noah can appreciate, and vice versa. Rotating among characters, the first-person narrative reflects the views of many individuals. A madcap addition to an amusing series. | Kirkus Reviews (December 15, 2025) In the third book in the Ungifted series, hypergifted Noah Youkilis graduates from eighth grade and unwillingly starts off his summer at Wilderton University. Making matters better (or maybe worse), he gets to bring his best friend, Donovan Curtis, who “barely squeaked through eighth grade,” to help him adjust before the fall semester begins. “Trouble magnet” Donovan will spend his days as a counselor-in-training with fellow 13-year-old Raina Overbrook and five energetic 8-year-olds. Living and working on campus requires way more effort than the lazy summer he’d hoped for. Meanwhile, 13-year-old Noah shows that he’s leaps and bounds ahead of many of the college students as he develops an elite AI program, but he’s behind the curve socially and struggles to fit in with the older students. Noah is bent on joining the university’s top-secret Society of the Gavel, seeing it as a way to finding friends and a great intellectual challenge (he has an IQ of 206). Joining the society proves difficult, however, and Donovan and Noah can’t help but engage in hijinks, including hiding the school mascot—a 300-pound pig—in their dorm room. Will they survive the summer without being caught pig-handed? Told from multiple points of view, the story is laugh-out-loud funny, and readers will be entertained as Noah and Donovan try to make sense of college life. The main characters present white. A hilarious romp. (Fiction. 9-13) | ||||||||||||||
86 | TW/KR | -Fic- | Invisible Isabel | Pla, Sally J | 2024 | Upper Elementary | 3-6 | Grades 3-6 | Ages 7-11 | Ages 8-12 | 3 | Booklist (June 1, 2024 (Vol. 120, No. 19)) Grades 3-6. Poor Isabel Beane. She's part of a big, boisterous family in which everyone else is consumed with their special interests, and their home is full of “havoc and hubbub and hullaballoo”—all things that make quiet Isabel extremely uncomfortable. To make matters worse, her teacher is focused on an important test, and a new girl, Monica, knows just how to get classmates to exclude Isabel. “Worry moths” bringing anxious thoughts flutter faster and faster until Isabel feels practically invisible, but when her parents and teachers finally notice something’s wrong, Isabel has a chance to get the help she needs. In short, lilting lines from Isabel's perspective, Pla balances Isabel's struggles with subtle yet lovely levels of humor and offers a thoughtful, sensitive depiction of anxiety and autism. Side characters are nicely multifaceted, even Monica; though Pla doesn’t excuse Monica’s actions, Pla still helps readers understand her behavior. De Regil's nostalgic illustrations perfectly pair with the whole package, and young readers will appreciate and cheer the outcome, whether or not they themselves have ever felt invisible. | Kirkus Reviews (May 15, 2024) A quiet, anxious young girl finds her voice. With five rambunctious siblings at home, a bully at school, and a formidable teacher who puts an outsize emphasis on “Extremely Important Testing,” Isabel Beane is more worried than ever; fading into the background feels easy—and safer. The worry-moths she imagines inside her are making her stomach hurt all the time, although Mama tells her it’s all in her head. As Isabel deals with the “Too-Muchness” of the world, she tries to figure out how to get Mama to understand her and how to win back her classmates, whom new girl Monica has turned against her. When the stomach pain feels different one day, it culminates in Isabel finally being heard and learning more about herself. Told in compelling free verse and peppered with black-and-white illustrations, this heartfelt and accessible tale showcases neurodivergence, specifically anxiety and autism. Although the focus is mostly on lovable Isabel, the narrative sometimes shifts to Monica, providing insight into her cruel behavior. These moments add tension to the story, but the tale truly shines when Isabel is in the spotlight. Readers may not feel as forgiving as Isabel toward the ineffectual adults in her life who initially fail to listen to her, but the clarity and paths to solutions offer much-needed optimism. Isabel and Monica are cued white. Final art not seen. A compassionate insider’s perspective of neurodivergence. (information on anxiety and autism, resources) (Verse fiction. 7-11) | Publishers Weekly (April 29, 2024) "Small, quiet" Isabel Beane doesn’t feel like she fits in. She tries her best to please others, even practicing smiling at home, "so people would know she was nice/ and good and friendly." Attempts to befriend classmate Monica result in a cruel dismissal and claims by Monica that Isabel is too different. She’s further crushed upon learning that she’s the only girl in class who’s not invited to Monica’s birthday party. Isabel’s mother insists that she’s "too sensitive" and must learn to speak up for herself. She struggles trying to meet her mother’s expectations, make friends, and do well in school, contending with heartbreak and disappointment when her efforts don’t net success, but unexpected events soon change everything for Isabel and force Monica to face the consequences of her actions. Sensorial verse alternates between Isabel’s and Monica’s POVs. Though Isabel’s experiences are at times framed as learning opportunities for Monica, the challenges that she faces in navigating mounting anxieties are sensitively depicted in this touching story by Pla (The Fire, the Water, and Maudie McGinn) that celebrates identity, friendship, and finding inner strength. An endnote offers "useful starting points, about anxiety and/or autism." Final art not seen by PW. Ages 8-12. Agent: Sara Crowe, Sara Crowe Literary. (July) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved. | ||||||||||||||
87 | TW/KR | -Fic- | J vs. K | Alexander, Kwame | 2025 | Upper Elementary | 3-6 | Grades 4-6 | Ages 8-12 | Ages 8-12 | Gr 2-5 | 5 | School Library Journal Xpress starred (April 4, 2025) Gr 2-5-Two fifth graders are ready to go head-to-head in the annual storytelling competition. One is renowned for his drawing skills and one for his writing. When their rivalry reaches a breaking point, they realize that they can work better together. This is a hybrid graphic novel/chapter book by Newbery Award-winning authors Alexander and Craft, and their talent shines through on every page. Both the authors are as much characters as the kids they've created to represent fictionalized younger versions of themselves. Interspersed throughout are writing tips, drawing advice, and story-crafting lessons. These asides turn a book about creating stories into a master class; but the asides and intertextual commentary are so humorous that young readers may not realize just how much they are learning. The black-and-white drawings are wonderfully done; simple but full of humor and character. Each element of design, including the different fonts for the author commentary, adds to the impact of this unique novel, making it very appealing for both fans of graphic novels and prose. Elementary children will come for the humor and great illustrations, but their teachers and families will appreciate the positive messaging and embedded storytelling tips. VERDICT An absolute must-purchase powerhouse of a hybrid illustrated novel packed with humor, storycrafting lessons, and a great rivals-to-teammates tale.-Elizabeth Nicolai © Copyright 2025. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | Horn Book Magazine (July/August, 2025) Two fifth graders vie to win their middle school's annual creative storytelling contest. Both are already experienced storytellers: J illustrates books without words, and K writes stories without illustrations. In real life, Craft and Alexander have a lively friendly rivalry on display in social media posts and joint school visits, and this highly illustrated novel (cartoonlike black-and-white drawings appear throughout; final art unseen) is the perfect playground for their fictional counterparts -- and for themselves, as both authors interject regularly with notes. Ever competitive, J and K try undermining each other's chances for winning the contest by giving bad advice: draw with your nondominant hand, write what you don't know, write in "sixth person." Readers will soon suspect that J and K will join forces to write a book together, combining their talents, and indeed they enter the contest with their frog story collaboration, "Croak and Swagger: The Most Ribbiting Story Ever Told." The culminating award ceremony, related with suspense and humor, isn't the final word. Not only are readers told "To Be Continued..." but Craft and Alexander also offer "more fun...with this QR code" and write each other's author bios with more of their trash talk. Dean Schneider July/August 2025 p.90 | Booklist starred (March 1, 2025 (Vol. 121, No. 13)) Grades 4-6. Two Newbery winners concoct a tale featuring two fifth-graders coincidentally named J and K—who in the line drawings look like junior versions of themselves—competing to win their K–8 school’s annual creative-storytelling contest. J knows he makes the most awesome comics and feels he has a lock on being the first fifth-grader to win the upcoming competition. But then along comes new student K, flashing all these big words and an ability to whip out a cool poem “faster than you could say codswallop.” How good is he? “Whenever K wrote something that really didn’t make sense, his readers always thought it was their own fault for not understanding it.” As the deadline approaches, both feel the pressure so acutely that, against their better judgment, in a wash of disingenuous helpfulness, they offer each other bogus tips on art and writing that each boy hopes will turn his rival’s entry into “J-ibberish” or a “K-tastrophe.” Happily, the two are smart enough to eventually realize they’ll do better working together than sabotaging each other, and so they turn their conflict into a salty collaboration in time to dish up a gobsmacking comic, along the way offering plenty of authorial interjections and good advice about crafting and revising stories and pictures. Readers will have as much fun with this as the coauthors plainly did—and that’s no codswallop. | |||||||||||||
88 | TW/KR | -Fic- | Just Gus | Best Friends Dog Tales | Hoyle, McCall | 2023 | Upper Elementary | 3-6 | Ages 7-10 | Gr 3-7 | 2 | School Library Journal Xpress (June 23, 2023) Gr 3-7-In a tale just right for dog lovers, Gus is a Great Pyrennes, bred to protect, but has always longed for his own person. Gus tells his story though he relates all the conversations he overhears and doesn't understand, helping readers to follow events that are beyond his doggy ken. Up until a bear arrived in the neighborhood, Gus was an outdoor dog, protecting sheep and chickens on a farm run by Esperanza and Cloe, her daughter, and their two indoor dog companions. Injured in his efforts to protect the farm, Gus becomes an inside dog and is befriended by their cousin Diego, who is severely shyness. Diego and his father return to their beach house bringing Gus where a persnickety neighbor tries to oust Gus from the neighborhood based on homeowner's association rules. Gus's good nature is tested as is Diego's willingness to speak up for himself. Their bond becomes the basis for a solution that satisfies all and allows each person involved dignity and respect. Peaceful conflict resolution is showcased throughout in thoughtful non-didactic ways. This is short enough to possibly appeal to reluctant readers or to be read by advanced readers in second or third grade. VERDICT As a read-aloud to the canine obsessed in the early grades or just an engaging tale for dog lovers, Hoyle quietly unleashes a barking good tale. Its charm is due to Gus and to a real love of dogs.-Carol A. Edwards © Copyright 2023. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | Kirkus Reviews (March 1, 2023) A working farm dog and an anxious boy become best friends. Gus is a livestock guardian dog who excels at protecting the sheep. A Great Pyrenees (illustrated as a massive, fluffy sweetheart), he’s lived outdoors his whole life, unlike the farm’s other dogs. He’s fond of “boss lady” Esperanza and her daughter, Cloe, and the other canines, including Stella, a service dog who alerts Cloe to seizures (and the protagonist of Stella, 2021). Gus, however, is a working dog at his very core. When a bear attacks, Gus is there—and when he leaps into the fray to protect one of the other dogs, he is gravely injured. The hardworking dog can’t bear being indoors as he heals and is comforted only by Diego, Cloe’s shy, soft-spoken cousin. Through Gus’ lightly anthropomorphized thoughts (he carefully reports all human conversations he hears despite not necessarily understanding everything), Diego’s overwhelming anxiety is apparent but is eased through his bond with Gus, and soon the dog realizes he has a new purpose as an emotional support animal for Diego. This is a comforting, quiet tale of a working dog slowly transitioning into a new life. Featuring a lovable animal protagonist, a relatable and persistent child trainer, and dog-training information, it’s a compelling read. Gus doesn’t report much on dog-irrelevant details like human appearance, though he’s very invested in the taste of ice cream, but his reports of conversations cue his human family as being Latine. A gentle portrayal of a canine protagonist adjusting to a new role. (discussion questions) (Fiction. 7-10) | |||||||||||||||
89 | TW/KR | -Fic- | Millie | Best Friends Dog Tales | Hoyle, McCall | 2025 | Upper Elementary | 3-6 | 2 | Kirkus Reviews (August 1, 2024) A street dog learns to trust humans in Hoyle’s middle-grade novel. Life hasn’t been easy for a stray border terrier separated from her mother and siblings. The humans who took her in abandoned her, and Big Guy, the canine who taught her how to survive on the streets, has never returned from his food hunt. Now the terrier cares for another stray, Little Pup; the two of them make a home in an alley behind a bakery. But she can’t evade “the dogcatcher” forever, and she winds up alone in an animal shelter. Fortunately, teacher and dog trainer Lee Berry adopts her and names her Millie. The ever-wary former street dog adjusts to her new life and an array of new smells, slowly warming up to Lee and Lee’s lovable golden retriever, Bella. While Millie hopes to one day reunite with Big Guy and Little Pup, she’s also happy to run into Tori Smallwood, the bakery owner’s young granddaughter, who had shown her four-legged alley neighbors nothing but kindness. Hoyle’s canine hero narrates this sentimental tale. Although Millie understands most of what humans say and do, her reliance on scents aptly showcases her distinctive dogginess. That nose of hers, for example, instantly picks up strangers before they’re in sight, and Tori emits a welcome and familiar “perfume of bread.” Even with the harshness Millie endures, this upbeat story zeroes in on the positives; Millie and Little Pup may be living outside in the dead of winter, but that doesn’t stop the puppy from playing in the snow. Readers truly see things through Millie’s eyes, from the reasons she’s extra cautious around certain humans to the odorous “message” she leaves Little Pup. Not surprisingly, each of Keele’s crisp, beautifully shaded black-and-white illustrations features Millie in her small but sturdy form, flaunting an irresistible beard. A marvelous, tenderhearted tale featuring a charming and cuddly terrier protagonist. | ||||||||||||||||||
90 | TW/KR | -Fic- | Moonleapers | Haddix, Margaret Peterson | 2025 | Upper Elementary | 3-6 | Grades 5-8 | Ages 8-12 | Ages 8-12 | Gr 3-7 | 4 | School Library Journal (August 1, 2025) Gr 3-7-Haddix's latest book blends mystery and time travel alongside an exploration of loss. Sixth grader Maisie's summer is upended when her family learns that they need to care for Great Aunt Hazel, whose health is failing. Along with this news are two gifts for Maisie: Hazel's old cell phone, and a seemingly blank book entitled Guide for Moonleapers. But when Maisie begins receiving riddles and cryptic texts from an unknown sender, she learns that she has inherited the status of Moonleaper from Hazel, and must use her sleuthing and research skills to solve a problem in Hazel's past. The phone also has a special ability: it allows Maisie limited communication with people in both the past and the future, offering a potential to change history itself. This provides real stakes for the story, and ultimately reshapes the lived experiences of the book's characters. Haddix uses humor, historical asides, and liberal references to the nursery rhyme "Hey, Diddle Diddle" to keep readers engaged. But there are somber notes too: Haddix's story, inspired by an episode connected to her mother's dementia, reads as deeply personal. The exploration of grief tempers the fantastical elements of the book, muting the thrill of Masie unlocking her Moonleaper abilities. The book sets up a proposed duology. Great Aunt Hazel is from Great Britain; main characters are cued white. VERDICT An easy pick for readers who enjoy some fantastical elements in an otherwise realistic story; recommended.-Michael Van Wambeke © Copyright 2025. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | Booklist (September 1, 2025 (Vol. 122, No. 1)) Grades 5-8. As in her novel The School for Whatnots (2022), Haddix explores the wonder that exists at the convergence of technology and humanity by following the butterfly effect through multiple time lines. Twelve-year-old Maisie is so thrilled to finally have her own phone that she doesn’t mind that it’s a hand-me-down from a great-aunt she barely knows. Yet messages from a mysterious texter and vivid images of the past soon lead Maisie to wonder if her elderly relative is harboring a secret. When a call from the future confirms that both Maisie and Great-Aunt Hazel are “moonleapers,” Maisie must race to help a younger version of Hazel change the world before time runs out. Filled with trivia about Bluetooth, Morse code, and “everything humans had ever used to bridge the gaps between one person and another,” the narrative is fast-paced and features a jaw-dropping surprise, but the emotional core remains grounded in familial love and connection. A poignant reminder that while every choice makes a difference, nothing is as impactful as time spent together. | Kirkus Reviews (August 1, 2025) In this duology opener, strange text messages and a mysterious old book lead a preteen to a startling revelation. When 12-year-old Maisie gets her first phone, she’s initially thrilled, even if it is a hand-me-down from Great-Aunt Hazel. But then her parents share disappointing news: She and her family must move from Ohio to Maryland for the summer so her mother can help Hazel, who’s moved into a nursing home, while Maisie babysits her two obnoxious younger siblings. When mysterious texts begin to arrive from an unknown number containing riddles for Maisie to solve, she’s confused and frustrated. The Guide for Moonleapers, a mysterious book her great-aunt has also left her, contains blank pages, which is just as annoying. But as Maisie slowly starts to piece together the puzzle, she discovers an incredible secret: As a moonleaper, or time traveler, Great-Aunt Hazel helped save the world by changing history—and she’s planned for Maisie to follow in her footsteps. Connecting with both the future and the past, Maisie must help change the world before time runs out for her great-aunt. Disjointed time travel episodes and overly explained plot points drag down this first installment, but Haddix’s unique talent for conveying the middle-grade voice shines through nevertheless. Main characters present white. A twisty if slightly uneven story celebrating the power of connection. (author’s note) (Science fiction thriller. 8-12) | |||||||||||||
91 | TW/KR | -Fic- | Nimbus | Eldredge, Jan | 2023 | Upper Elementary | 3-6 | Ages 8-12 | Ages 8-12 | 2 | Kirkus Reviews starred (August 1, 2023) A loyal black kitten’s boy is under supernatural attack. Eleven-month-old Nimbus loves Fletcher, the boy who nursed her back to health following life-threatening injuries. When Fletcher becomes curious about a strange jar and opens it, releasing a terrible goblin, loyal Nim protects Fletcher, taking heavy damage in the process. But Fletcher’s aunt, who’s caring for him over spring break, believes Nim attacked Fletcher and dumps her far from home. Rhett, a stylish rat with star quality, befriends injured Nim and leads her to a witch’s house. While the witch cares for Nim, the witch’s cats (maternal Fern, bookish Rochester, standoffish Bianca, and openly hostile Abraxas) teach Nim important cat skills. She also discovers she has a supernatural ability: In destroying one eye of the nightmare demon in the fight to protect Fletcher, Nim gained its “dream sight.” But she also learns it might come back for Fletcher, who no longer has Nim to protect him, posing a time-sensitive, high-stakes threat. Even though the witch’s home is nice and magic itself seems to be telling her to stay put, Nim wants to find a way back to Fletcher. As a hero, Nimbus is as gritty and determined as she is adorable. Tear-jerker moments explore pet abandonment—readers may want their own pets on hand to hug—all the way through the magical, action-packed finale. Fletcher and the witch read white. A deeply imaginative journey that puts the “cat” in cathartic. (Fantasy. 8-12) | Publishers Weekly (July 10, 2023) In this affecting tale by Eldredge (Evangeline of the Bayou), a cat struggling to make it home to her owner finds that she has magical powers. Black cat Nimbus is devoted to her young human owner, Fletcher. So when Fletcher is attacked by a strange monster that he accidentally frees from a jar, Nimbus defends him. Both boy and feline are hurt in the fray; Fletcher’s cat-distrusting aunt blames Nimbus for his injuries and abandons her far from home. Nimbus encounters and befriends a fashion-conscious, would-be actor rat named Rhett, and takes refuge with Agatha, a reclusive human witch whose four cats reluctantly accept Nimbus’s presence while she heals. There, Nimbus discovers her ability to dreamwalk. Though desperate to return to Fletcher, Nimbus soon realizes that her destiny may lie elsewhere. Fanciful, optimistic, and filled with a gentle humor, this heartrending tale is also offers a thoughtful exploration of animal abandonment and trauma, and the bond between owner and pet. As Nimbus discovers the tragic circumstances that brought each of her new friends to live with Agatha, she confronts her own fears and tumultuous kittenhood, while never losing sight of her goals or beloved owner. Ages 8-12. Agent: Elena Giovinazzo, Pippin Properties. (Sept.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved. | ||||||||||||||||
92 | TW/KR | -Fic- | Not the worst friend in the world | Rellihan, Anne | 2025 | Upper Elementary | 3-6 | Grades 4-6 | Ages 8-12 | Ages 8-12 | Gr 4-6 | 5 | School Library Journal (March 1, 2024) Gr 4-6-Eleven-year old Lou Bennett has been adrift since the 10th day of sixth grade, when a fight with her best friend Francie left her an outcast at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School. That all changes when the new girl, Cece Clark-Duncan, passes Lou a cryptic note asking to meet. Cece is convinced there's something sinister behind her family's sudden arrival in town and her mother's mysterious absence. Noticing that Lou keeps a Harriet the Spy-inspired notebook full of observations, Cece enlists her help tracking down her mother. With Cece, Lou sees a chance to redo her mistakes with Francie and prove that she can be a trustworthy friend. But Lou soon realizes that Cece's situation may be more complicated than anticipated, and their new relationship might not survive the truth. Flashbacks to Lou and Francie's bond are peppered throughout, slowly building up to the terrible fight that torpedoed their friendship. While the two mysteries lean toward the predictable, there's enough tension to keep readers turning the pages. There are no clear heroes and villains here. Just characters who are realistically flawed, their shortcomings lovingly rendered, and the turmoil of sixth grade friendship empathetically depicted. VERDICT A highly recommended story about friendship, family, and growing pains.-Alia Shields © Copyright 2024. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | Horn Book Magazine (January/February, 2024) In this pitch-perfect middle-grade novel, Lou (short for Louise) copes with her deep shame over some unkind words she said in anger to Francie, her (now former) best friend. Lou can hardly believe that new-kid Cece wants to be friends, but she's intrigued by the girl's conviction about having been kidnapped by her father. Lou's first-person narration is punctuated with her notebook entries trying to sleuth out if Cece is correct and with flashbacks documenting her friendship with Francie, from kindergarten to "The Tenth Day of Sixth Grade" -- the day everything changed. Parallels with Harriet the Spy are spelled out, so what happens to that notebook and the emotional ramifications that follow are no surprise. Lou's tart perceptions of her Catholic school, her family (her white mother, Black stepfather, and two young siblings), and the emotional dynamics of sixth grade are sharply observant, as is her journey to understanding that people change. Other themes include Cece's keen interest in astrology (and insistence on interviewing a local reader for a "Christ Is Alive!" school project) and Francie's mother's depression; the depiction of the hot and humid Missouri setting is another strength. The mystery and plentiful conversation help keep the momentum going all the way to the end. Susan Dove Lempke January/February 2024 p.101 | Booklist starred (January 1, 2024 (Vol. 120, No. 9)) Grades 4-6. Lou and Francie have been best friends since kindergarten, but now, six years in, Lou senses that Francie is pulling away. Lou reacts harshly, saying hurtful things that she immediately regretted. Even several weeks afterward, she doesn’t know how to mend their friendship. So when 11-year-old Cece, the new girl in their classroom, confides that she was kidnapped by her father and asks for help finding her mother, Lou tries to be the best possible friend: kind, smart, and supportive of Cece’s ideas. But when those ideas include consulting an astrologer and taking a train alone to Kansas City, Lou’s perspective shifts, leaving her torn between her fears of disappointing her friend and her realization that Cece needs far more help than she can give. In her first novel, Rellihan creates an appealing narrator in Lou, who carries a notebook like her literary heroine, Harriet the Spy, and bears a heavy burden of guilt for her cruel words to Francie. Grounded in everyday details of her life in her home, school, and church, Lou’s narrative becomes increasingly involving as she hunts for clues, attempts to evaluate people, debates with herself, and tries to do the right thing. An engaging story told from a convincingly tween-age perspective. | |||||||||||||
93 | TW/KR | -Fic- | Off the map | Hashimoto, Meika | 2024 | Upper Elementary | 3-6 | Ages 10-13 | Ages 8-12 | 2 | Kirkus Reviews (December 15, 2024) Former best friends forced to share a canoe find themselves lost in the Alaskan wilderness. Narrator Marlo and her BFF, Amos, haven’t been on speaking terms for nearly a month, so both are unpleasantly surprised to discover that their oblivious parents have planned a four-day family trip down the Yukon River together. The rugged outdoors gives them little time to stew, though. Accompanied by Marlo’s big, affectionate dog, Cheerio, who often takes center stage, the kids soon paddle down a branching stream and lose touch with the grown-ups. As they face a sudden waterfall and a relentless onslaught of other natural hazards, they realize that they must cooperate—their very existence depends on it. Days pass, and without a radio or phones to call for help, the pair must rely on their untried survival skills. Hashimoto describes all of this, along with the kids’ gear, in enough specific detail to hook readers no matter how much, or how little, experience they have with camping. Her exploration of Marlo and Amos’ conflict—the way the two circle around the cause of their rift and their eventual frank discussions of what happened and what each now expects from the other—could serve as good models for readers with longtime friendships that are undergoing changes. Physical descriptions are minimal. A taut survival adventure, featuring a scene-stealing dog as well as lives and a close friendship in the balance. (Fiction. 10-13) | Publishers Weekly starred (September 9, 2024) Two former friends must work together to survive after getting lost in this gritty, briskly paced adventure by Hashimoto (The Trail). Spirited and headstrong 13-year-old Marlo is preparing for a four-day canoe trip, during which she will travel down 150 miles of the Yukon River with her river guide mother and her dog, Cheerio. Though she’s excited for the trip, it’s the first one she’s taken since her father left two months ago, which Marlo blames herself for. Her feelings surrounding the trip grow more complicated when Marlo and her mother are joined by Marlo’s former best friend Amos and his father. What starts as a straightforward route gets derailed due to Amos and Marlo’s communication struggles. Soon the tweens, who are sharing a canoe, get separated from their parents. Now they must confront the reasons behind their crumbling friendship and work together if they hope to survive the Alaskan wilderness. Via vividly detailed prose and a propulsive plot, Hashimoto depicts the harsh realities of surviving in nature. Safety tips, such as boiling river water to sanitize it and the importance of having a first-aid kit, feature throughout, providing foreshadowing and heightening the tension. Ages 8-12. Agent: Chelsea Eberly, Greenhouse Literary. (Nov.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved. | ||||||||||||||||
94 | TW/KR | -Fic- | Oh, Sal | Henkes, Kevin | 2023 | Upper Elementary | 3-6 | Grades 2-5 | Ages 5-9 | Gr 1-4 | 4 | School Library Journal (September 1, 2022) Gr 1-4-Sal has a lot going on-a new sister, a visiting uncle, an annoying brother, and a missing pair of underpants. The four-year-old sister of Billy Miller from Henkes's previous middle grade novels, Sal received a set of flowered, days-of-the-week undies for Christmas. When her favorite pair goes missing, she's heartbroken. Papa and Mama help her search the house, and when the undies still can't be found, they help take her mind off this very big dilemma. Just when things start looking up, another problem occurs. Sal feels unprepared to deal with it all, but her family-even the new baby-shows her that big problems can sometimes have unexpected and wonderful outcomes. With his characteristic charm, Henkes takes readers straight into the microcosm of a little girl's world where small things mean everything, and imagination helps process emotions; readers will easily feel at home. The picture-perfect narrative creates a natural world filled with a relatable and engaging cast that feels more like family than book characters. The wholesome plot feels authentic and warm. The only downfall of this book is that it is marketed as middle grade because of the previous books when it will resonate far more with the chapter book audience. VERDICT A lovely, honest story perfect for fans of Jeanne Birdsall's The Penderwicks or for those looking for a read-aloud for young children.-Kate Davis © Copyright 2022. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | Horn Book Magazine (September/October, 2022) This third, stand-alone installment of the Miller family saga (The Year of Billy Miller, rev. 9/13, and sequel) is told from four-year-old Sal's point of view. It's New Year's Day, and there's simply too much going on for Sal. She can't find her favorite pair of underwear; visiting Uncle Jake calls her "Salamander," a nickname she hates; and the new baby, a week after being born, is no longer exciting or even cute. She's boring. Even worse, the baby has displaced Sal as "Mama's favorite." It's not going to be easy to be a big sister to the as-yet-unnamed sibling and a little sister to eight-year-old Billy. "It is so hard to be me," Sal thinks. But if Sal is at times overwhelmed by life's complications, she is part of a loving family that takes her emotions seriously and includes her in their day-to-day decisions. Sal even ends up contributing the name for the baby, albeit inadvertently. Henkes is a master at probing the mind and heart of a young child, writing with gentle humor and affection. Black-and-white spot art embellishes pages and adds to an already rich character study of young Sal. Readers will hope that as the Miller family members grow, so will the series. Dean Schneider September/October 2022 p.85 | Booklist starred (August 2022 (Vol. 118, No. 22)) Grades 2-5. In this stand-alone companion book to The Year of Billy Miller (2013) and Billy Miller Makes a Wish (2021), the spotlight shifts from eight-year-old Billy to his four-year-old sister, Sal. On Christmas Eve, she became a big sister to “The Baby,” who is yet to be named. Though Sal seems to be coping with the change fairly well, at some point during each day since, she’s been in tears. Now it’s New Year’s Day, and she can’t find her favorite Christmas present, a pair of underpants (one of seven in a floral set) embroidered with a flower and the words Wednesday and Poppy. She asks her parents for help but doesn’t want Billy or Uncle Jake to know, in case they tease her. Mama vows to find Sal’s underpants and a name for her sister by the end of the day. Written in third person from Sal’s viewpoint, the story takes place within a 24-hour period, yet the family members’ actions, concerns, and conversations offer a broad range of insights into the characters and their relationships. Sal’s portrayal is drawn with particular finesse and will leave readers hoping for more. Small drawings accompany the text. A captivating family story with gentle humor and emotional resonance. | ||||||||||||||
95 | TW/KR | -Fic- | Old school | Korman, Gordon | 2025 | Upper Elementary | 3-6 | Grades 4-7 | Ages 9-13 | Ages 8-12 | Gr 3-7 | 4 | School Library Journal Xpress (December 20, 2024) Gr 3-7-Korman's latest realistic fiction set in a middle school poses a fish-out-of-water scenario. Twelve-year-old Dexter has lived in his grandma's retirement community for the past six years, enjoying homeschooling and friendships with the elderly. But when he's forced to go to public school for the first time, Dexter must learn to be a kid; how to dress, talk slang, and deal with bullies. Dexter doesn't like being at school and his classmates don't seem to care for him either, until an incident rallies the students behind him. Told by various narrators-including a wannabe student reporter, a guidance counselor, and the big man on campus-this title explores the good and bad of public education as different characters try to find their place. While Dexter's musings are thought-provoking, some of the other characters are oversimplified. Savvy readers may question why the guidance counselor sounds less mature than the students, and how Dexter's forced education is due to officials realizing that his grandma listed Dexter as a 60-year-old so she wouldn't have to fill out the paperwork for homeschooling. VERDICT Korman is always a safe bet, and this is no exception. Purchase where his titles do well.-Elissa Cooper © Copyright 2024. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | Booklist (November 1, 2024 (Vol. 121, No. 5)) Grades 4-7. For six years, 12-year-old Dexter has lived with his grandmother in The Pines Retirement Village. There he’s homeschooled by other residents, including a best-selling author (English), a retired Yale professor (math), and a former boxer (gym). His best friend is a 99-year-old genius, Nazi-code-breaking veteran of WWII. Though Dexter enjoys life at The Pines, when a truant officer insists that he attend middle school, he tries it. Although two boys try to undermine him, the other students seem OK. But after Dexter pulls out a Swiss Army knife to repair a lunchroom vending machine, he’s immediately suspended and the possibility of expulsion looms over him. A classmate goes all out to prove his innocence, but what does Dexter really want? The narrative is written in first person from the points of view of individual characters, from Dexter to his fellow students to his guidance counselor, whose different reactions to situations help readers decide whom to trust. This quick-paced, absorbing narrative encourages readers to consider different varied perspectives on people and events. | Kirkus Reviews (November 15, 2024) A 12-year-old raised by senior citizens finds middle school a strange new world. Korman’s cleverly chosen title plays on several themes explored in this outing. Left by his parents in the care of his grandmother and other residents of a retirement community, Dexter has acquired anachronistic manners, speech, and dress—and a broad education that sets him apart when social services force him into seventh grade. He must adjust—and so must his teachers and classmates at the run-down small-town school. They initially regard him as a weird outsider but eventually accept and even value his quirks and abilities. When Dexter uses a Swiss Army knife to repair a money-eating snack machine and falls afoul of the school’s zero-tolerance policy, his suspension touches off a wave of student protests that spill over into a school board meeting to debate the ongoing neglect of necessary school maintenance. Meanwhile, Dexter wrestles with conflicting feelings about whether he wants to be reinstated. The author stocks his cast of seniors with smart, capable elders and presents a picture of retirement-village life as practically paradisical. Conversely, though he does take a few swipes at the curriculum, he provides Dexter (and readers) with enough good reasons to go to school to make his protagonist’s eventual decision genuinely tough. Although names cue some ethnic diversity in the student body, the cast largely reads white, and race as a factor in draconian school disciplinary action goes unexplored. Wry, provocative, and shot through with cogent issues. (Fiction. 9-13) | |||||||||||||
96 | TW/KR | -Fic- | One wrong step | Nielsen, Jennifer A | 2025 | Upper Elementary | 3-6 | Grades 3-6 | Ages 10-14 | Ages 8-12 | 3 | Booklist (February 1, 2025 (Vol. 121, No. 11)) Grades 3-6. Mountaineering is something 14-year-old Atlas and his father “do to avoid talking about [Atlas’] mum,” whose death weighs Atlas down with grief and resentment. Work brings the British pair to Tibet's Everest in 1939, where, as war and Nazis loom, they hope to be among the first group to reach the summit. After an avalanche buries the expedition team, Atlas and American Maddie Pierson, another child left at High Camp, stage an upper-mountain rescue. “This is a terrible idea,” proclaims injured Sherpa Chodak, yet the pair persists. This high-altitude historical thriller unfolds faithfully to Nielsen’s formula of youths in fairly improbable situations fending for themselves and gaining emotional insights through the process of survival. Climbing terms start each chapter, and though elements like expedition ethics and the costliness of simple mistakes ring true, the plot requires a massive suspension of disbelief. Hand to fans of Nielsen’s prior work, to readers of Gordon Korman’s Contest trilogy, and to anyone intrigued by the recent discovery of Sandy Irvine’s remains on Everest. | Kirkus Reviews (January 15, 2025) A 14-year-old British boy risks everything on Mount Everest when his father’s expedition is in mortal peril. It’s August 1939, and Atlas Wade and his father are climbing the tallest mountain in the world. Nobody has ever reached the summit of Mount Everest, but Atlas hopes to be among the first. Unfortunately, his father insists he remain at Advanced Base Camp while the adults forge on. The discovery of a German military boot print and a foreign rope adds intrigue, suggesting that the Nazis are attempting to be the first to summit. Then, following Germany’s invasion of Poland, on the same day the British declare war on Germany, an avalanche endangers the climbers. Receiving only static on the radio, Atlas and Maddie, another expedition member’s daughter, attempt to rescue their fathers with help from Chodak Sherpa. When Chodak is injured, Atlas must take the lead to get Chodak, Maddie (who has a terrible fear of heights), and the expedition climbers to safety, even if a Nazi spy may be watching them. Atlas initially feels more like a conduit for conveying nature facts and historical details to readers than an active participant in the events. But as the story progresses and the stakes are raised, both the narrative and Atlas find their interesting, if measured, strides. Western characters present white. A slightly uneven story of daring in the face of daunting odds. (map, author’s note) (Historical fiction. 10-14) | Publishers Weekly (December 16, 2024) Just before WWII’s start in 1939-when no one had yet reached Mt. Everest’s summit-14-year-old white-cued Atlas Wade accompanies his father on a hazardous expedition to stand "at the top of the world." During the excursion, the group learns that Nazis are attempting their own climb. Despite Atlas’s eagerness to finish the trek-born from his desire to escape grief surrounding his mother’s death three years ago-his father forbids him from making the final climb to the summit. While waiting at Advanced Base Camp at 21,300 feet, Atlas spies an avalanche around where the expedition should’ve been. Together with the daughter of another explorer and an injured adult Sherpa, Atlas determines to rescue them, using all the hiking skills his father taught him to survive. Employing her extensive mountain climbing experience-as outlined in an endnote-Nielsen (Uprising) details the activity’s pitfalls, hazards, and potential disasters with authenticity. The result is a gripping adventure tale that provides a new perspective through which to view the history of the era. An explanation of specific climbing terms begins each chapter; maps depicting Atlas’s progress scaling Everest feature throughout. Ages 8-12. Agent: Ammi-Joan Paquette, Erin Murphy Literary. (Mar.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved. | ||||||||||||||
97 | TW/KR | -Fic- | Pax | Pax | 1 | Pennypacker, Sara | 2024 | Upper Elementary | 3-6 | Grades 4-7 | Ages 9-13 | Ages 8-12 | Gr 4-7 | 8 | School Library Journal (December 1, 2016) Gr 4-7-With moving prose, Pennypacker tells an unusual, viscerally affecting story of war, loss, and the power of friendship. Alternating perspectives between a boy and his pet fox, the novel tracks each character's quest to reunite after their forced separation in a conflict-ridden landscape. Klassen's black-and-white drawings add to the haunting atmosphere of this startling title that children and adults will want to discuss together. © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | Horn Book Magazine (March/April, 2016) Twelve-year-old Peter and his pet fox have been inseparable since Peter rescued Pax as a kit. Now Peter�s father has enlisted, and there�s no room at Grandfather�s house (where the boy will be staying) for a fox, tame or otherwise; Peter�s father forces his son to release Pax into the wild. Heartsick, Peter soon decides to run away to find Pax. He stumbles onto the land of a woman named Vola, a hermit who reluctantly helps the boy regain his strength after an injury and whose own tragic backstory gradually emerges. Omniscient third-person chapters alternate between Peter�s story and that of Pax, who falls in with a young vixen, her fox-kit brother, and an aging alpha who takes Pax under his protection as the fox tries to find his boy. Pennypacker�s setting is stark, the details of time and place intentionally murky, with occasional textured black-and-white illustrations by Klassen playing up scenes both ordinary-seeming (a boy in a baseball dugout) and subtly menacing (flowers trampled into the ground). �Just because it isn�t happening here doesn�t mean it isn�t happening� reads the book�s epigraph, and readers are kept off-balance throughout as soldiers, including Peter�s father, amass and prepare for an unnamed war against unidentified combatants that�s poised to take place practically in Peter�s backyard. An emotional, thought-provoking story of conflict, loyalty, and love. elissa gershowitz | Booklist starred (November 1, 2015 (Vol. 112, No. 5)) Grades 4-7. Peter and Pax, his pet fox he found as a kit on the day of his mother’s funeral, are inseparable. That is, until Peter’s dad enlists in the military and Peter is forced to abandon Pax before moving to his grandfather’s house. Almost as soon as he gets there, however, he slips out, determined to hike the hundreds of miles back to where he left his pet. Not long into his journey, he is injured and reluctantly taken in by Vola, a war veteran and amputee who stubbornly lives on her own. In chapters from the fox’s point of view, Pax struggles in the wild until a grizzled old fox agrees to help him get home. Pennypacker alternates between Pax’s and Peter’s perspectives, while the simmering war between unnamed countries grows dangerously close to home. As she slowly reveals secrets about Peter’s and Vola’s pasts, she sensitively and engagingly explores questions about anger, wildness, isolation, and family. Meanwhile, both fox and boy grow in unexpected ways. While there’s a lot of emotional complexity here, the focus is solidly on the earthy, tense wilderness adventure, which is likely what will draw young readers most. Pennypacker’s expert, evenhanded storytelling reveals stunning depth in a relatively small package. Final illustrations by Caldecott Medal winner Klassen not seen.HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Pennypacker is no stranger to the New York Times best-seller list, and with award-winning Klassen in the mix, this adventure story should easily find a wildly enthusiastic audience. | |||||||||||
98 | TW/KR | -Fic- | Peter Lee's notes from the field | Ahn, Angela | 2021 | Upper Elementary | 3-6 | Grades 4-7 | Ages 8-12 | Gr 4-6 | 3 | School Library Journal (February 1, 2021) Gr 4-6-Peter Lee has one dream in life, to become a paleontologist, and this summer he will finally have a chance to experience a real dinosaur dig. But when Peter's passion is not enough to create success in the field, he finds himself adrift amid a changing landscape in his family, friendships, and his own goals. Who is he if he's not enraptured with dinosaurs? Why does Hammy, his grandmother, seem so unlike herself at times? Told in short, journal-like entries and interspersed with glorious sketches, this is a relatable, rambling, realistic account of six months of Peter's life. A transition from childhood obsession to evolving preteen interests, a vibrant sibling relationship, deep multigenerational ties, a celebration of Korean Canadian culture, and a sweet ending are the strong points in these field notes. However, at times Peter's overbearing parents and the bully from school feel stereotypical and static even as Peter's relationship with his grandparents grows and changes. VERDICT A sweet coming-of-age story packed with dinosaurs, sibling drama, and Korean culture, this is a solid choice for larger collections.-Emily Beasley, Omaha Public Sch., NE © Copyright 2021. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | Booklist (April 15, 2021 (Vol. 117, No. 16)) Grades 4-7. He may young, but Peter knows exactly what he’s going to be when he grows up: a world-renowned paleontologist. He’s been obsessed with dinosaurs and the science surrounding them his whole life, even convincing his accommodating grandparents to let him fashion an excavation pit in their backyard for digging practice. When he gets the chance to take part in a real dig for a day, Peter’s extended family packs up and heads off on a road trip to make his dreams come true, but both the trip and the dig uncover more than Peter had bargained for. His grandmother is behaving oddly, but no one will discuss it, and his brush with paleontology leaves Peter questioning his own worth and aspirations. The story is cleverly told via Peter’s frequently updated field notes, and what starts off as a seemingly lighthearted ode to scientific obsession transforms into a tender story about fierce familial love and friction and the process of learning to believe in yourself, sometimes with an assist from others believing in you, too. There’s a funny and familiar sibling dynamic, and the details about the Korean Canadian family’s culture and challenges are wonderfully rendered. It’s a joy to join the entire Lee family on their meaningful journey. | Kirkus Reviews (February 1, 2021) Peter Lee can’t wait for summer, but things don’t go quite as expected for the aspiring paleontologist. On a road trip from British Columbia to Alberta with his parents, annoyingly energetic little sister, and loving grandparents Hammy and Haji, Peter gets to join a museum’s Junior Scientist Dig and experience hands-on his unwavering obsession: paleontology. Structured as field-note entries taking place over the six months from the end of fifth through the beginning of sixth grades, the story captures a period of personal and familial change. Readers get a front-row seat to Peter’s passions, anxieties, and worries—from reevaluating what he loves to trying new hobbies, and all the messy emotions involved. Home is similarly discombobulating with the everyday ups and downs of family life and a new challenge in the form of aging grandparents. The positivity of the resolution will comfort while being realistic and not too tidy. There are sweet, thoughtful moments among the relatable exasperating ones between siblings. Hammy and Haji offer emotional balance in contrast to parents who can be disparaging and too weighty in their expectations. With the focus primarily on the Korean Canadian Lee family, supporting characters, like Peter’s nemesis at school, do not display the growth readers get to see from the Lees, but the fairly diverse cast has many engaging moments. Illustrations charmingly representing Peter’s sketches are peppered throughout. A sweet, science-y story of struggles and discovery. (Fiction. 8-12) | ||||||||||||||
99 | TW/KR | -Fic- | Stella | Best Friends Dog Tales | Hoyle, McCall | 2022 | Upper Elementary | 3-6 | Ages 7-10 | Gr 3-7 | 2 | School Library Journal (January 1, 2021) Gr 3-7-Stella is a good dog, but she misses her old handler Connie and is having a hard time understanding where Connie went and why loud noises such as thunder and fireworks cause her to panic. Now, living with post-traumatic stress disorder, Stella sometimes does bad things that she can't control, like escaping from crates and digging. Because of this, she's convinced she's a bad dog who cannot change. Before Stella made her way to live with Esperanza, an expert dog trainer, and her daughter Cloe, she used to be a bomb-sniffing dog at the airport. She blames herself for Connie's death because Stella was distracted and missed the scent of an explosive device. Stella and Cloe are immediately drawn to each other, and through their relationship, Stella finds that she can still use her nose and be helpful. This tender novel from a dog's perspective will help readers understand the importance of animals in their lives. This empathetic read is also full of important themes and lessons for young readers-bravery, how to overcome fears, and that mistakes don't have to define us. VERDICT A heartfelt dog story that readers young and old will enjoy.-Alicia Kalan, The Northwest Sch., Seattle © Copyright 2021. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | Kirkus Reviews (January 1, 2021) A traumatized working dog has one last chance after the death of her handler. Stella, a bomb-sniffing beagle, has been in three foster homes since the death of her handler, Connie, in an explosion. Now she’s got PTSD, and she panics at loud noises, fire, or being left alone. Unable to do anything for her, the humans plan to euthanize Stella until she receives a last-minute reprieve. An old friend of Connie’s, a world-class dog trainer, decides to take on Stella’s rehabilitation as a favor to her old friend. Through Stella’s doggy point of view (usually, though not entirely, limited to what a dog could theoretically comprehend), readers are introduced to dog training with Esperanza and her 11-year-old daughter, Cloe. Esperanza and Cloe, who come from a Spanish-speaking family background, live in the country with other working dogs, a cat, and sheep. Perhaps in this rural environment Stella can finally recover. As her bond with Cloe grows, Stella learns more about what Cloe’s sometimes-strange smells mean when she first witnesses Cloe have an epileptic seizure. Stella’s narration duly reports all the human conversations she doesn’t understand; combined with Stella’s somewhat anthropomorphized trauma recovery, Cloe’s hopes and fears come through clearly. There’s plenty of training process to please lovers of realistic dog books. Dog training, trauma recovery, and just enough urgency to keep it moving: a quiet pleasure. (discussion questions) (Fiction. 7-10) | |||||||||||||||
100 | TW/KR | -Fic- | Stinetinglers 3 : more chilling stories by the master of scary tales | Stinetinglers | 3 | Stine, R. L | 2025 | Upper Elementary | 3-6 | Ages 8-12 | Gr 3-Up | 2 | School Library Journal starred (December 1, 2024) Gr 3 Up-It's easy to see why R.L. Stine is beloved by generations-he allows readers to get lost in the suspense while knowing they are in for a safe landing. The author delivers another set of thrilling stories for kids who want to be scared...but not too scared. Pitiful magicians, evil sorcerers, body-snatchers, bad luck imps, and alien stray dogs are some of the featured characters in this collection of thoroughly entertaining stories for middle grader readers and up. Ideal for spooky season class read-alouds or for lessons on character development and plot, Stinetinglers 3 offers the perfect mix of laughter and suspense. VERDICT Stine's fans will not be disappointed, and readers will devour this volume in no time. © Copyright 2024. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. | Kirkus Reviews (July 1, 2024) Ten more hair-prickling shorts inspired by people or events from the author’s life. “My job is to scare you,” writes the genial Stine, though—aside from trotting in the odd zombie or Martian pig monster—his frights in this series continue to be of the milder sort. In the opening story, “Full-Moon Sleepover Party,” a group of seventh grade girls are joined by an uninvited werewolf. The closing entry, “Eddie the Flash,” is a cleverly metafictional entry about an aspiring comics creator whose superheroes and villains come to life. In between, Stine has his hapless preteens encounter ghosts in “The Treehouse” and ominously toothy aquarium fish in “Fish Food.” In “The Dream Factory,” a boy learns the hard way what can happen when you neglect to read the fine print on a product label. Other characters fall afoul of magicians. As is typical, the author’s tightly woven tales aren’t big on distinctive characterization, but all feature quick starts and steady build-ups to final, untelegraphed twists. SanAngelo’s atmospherically creepy black-and-white spot art opens each story. Names and illustrations cue some diversity in the otherwise racially indeterminate cast. Another satisfying series entry that delivers delicious thrills. (Horror. 8-12) | ||||||||||||||